It is important to update your estate plan periodically. One time when you may want to do so is after a serious medical diagnosis, like a cancer diagnosis.
One way to address your future medical concerns is to use an advance health care directive. This is essentially a list of instructions for your medical team. You can use it to tell them what type of care you would or would not like to receive.
For instance, perhaps you are open to early treatment methods, but if it reaches a point where you need to be kept on life support, you do not want that type of care. Or you may simply want to instruct that, if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating, you do not want to be resuscitated. It can often be difficult for family members to make these types of decisions, so leaving them an advance directive can help provide important guidance.
Using a medical power of attorney
Another option is to use a medical power of attorney. With this document, you select an agent and authorize them to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Typically, you will set up your power of attorney so that it does not actually go into effect until you become incapacitated. If you reach a point where you cannot make your own medical decisions, then your predetermined agent steps in and works with the medical team.
These are just two types of documents you may want to use in your estate plan following a significant diagnosis. Make sure you know what legal steps to take to make the appropriate updates.
