Have You Thought about End-of-Life Medical Care?

To find out how people viewed end-of-life medical care, the Kaiser Family Foundation partnered with The Economist to conduct a survey in Brazil, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The results of the entire survey can be found on their website, including a report that provides results for the survey in the United States.

Some key results from the KFF survey reveal how the respondents felt about issues including:

  • Less than 10 percent believe that the government, health care system or families are very prepared for the challenges of an aging population.
  • 42 percent believe the government should bear a greater responsibility for paying the costs of long-term care while 44 percent believe families and individuals should bear this cost.
  • Roughly half of people surveyed rate the health care system in general and health care for end-of-life needs fair to poor.
  • 49 percent believe that patients have too little control over the decisions about their medical care.
  • 71 percent believe that the priority when faced with end-of-life care is helping a person die without stress, discomfort, and pain.
  • When thinking about their own death, 54 percent of respondents desired not to be a financial burden on their families while only 23 percent were concerned with living as long as possible.
  • 71 percent of people would prefer to die at home.
  • Only 11 percent of respondents reported having a conversation with a doctor about their end-of-life preferences for care.
  • Just 27 percent of people had put their end-of-life choices for medical care in writing. Almost one-half of those who do not have anything in writing stated they have not gotten around to planning for end-of-life care.

Do You Have Plans for End-of-Life Care?

Are you one of the 27 percent of respondents who have taken steps to ensure that your wishes are carried out regarding end-of-life medical and personal care? If not, you need to act now while you are healthy and can make these decisions for yourself. Simply telling your family your wishes about life-sustaining medical treatment, pain management, and your preferences for personal care is not sufficient. You must have these preferences in writing for your wishes to be carried out.

If you do not have a valid legal document stating your wishes for care, your family members are not required to follow your wishes, even if they know how you felt about these issues. While finding a doctor who will explain your choices and take time to understand your decisions about end-of-life care is good, it is not sufficient to force your loved ones to obey your wishes. The doctor does not have the legal authority to withhold life-prolonging treatments (i.e. feeding tubes, respirators, etc.) if you do not have a legal document refusing such treatment.

Find a doctor who will help you make an informed decision about end-of-life care, including whether you want to consider Hospice services, but then put your choice in writing to relieve your loved ones of the burden of making these choices for you when you no longer can speak for yourself.

Estate Planning Documents for End-Of-Life Care

Several estate planning documents can be used to put your desires into writing and make your decisions legally binding. Our Michigan estate planning attorneys can help you choose the specific document you need to achieve your goals, including a Living Will, Health Care Directive, and Medical Power of Attorney.  We believe that estate planning documents regarding end-of-life care and medical decisions are a crucial element of a comprehensive estate plan for each person.

Get the Help You Need Today

If you are ready to take steps to protect your legal right to decide questions about end-of-life care for yourself, our Michigan estate planning attorneys are here to help you put your wishes in writing.

Call The Elder Care Firm of Christopher J. Berry, CELA at 888-390-4360 to schedule your appointment with an experienced Michigan elder care lawyer. You may also use the contact form on our website to request additional information about estate, elder care, Medicaid, and retirement planning.

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