I recently came across an article in The Wall Street Journal titled “She Signed a Living Will, Her Sister Didn’t Honor It.” It detailed the story of a woman with a terminal illness who explicitly stated she did not want to be kept alive using a ventilator or artificial nutrition. Despite these clear instructions, when she went into surgery, her sister—who was entrusted to make medical decisions—chose otherwise. As a result, the woman was kept alive for three years, enduring a life without quality.
How could this happen? She selected the wrong person to make decisions for her. While having an Advance Health Care Directive (a medical Power of Attorney) is crucial, it’s just as vital to carefully choose someone who will respect and carry out your wishes.
I’ve seen this firsthand, which is why I took extra care in my own planning. Although I loved my husband deeply, I didn’t select him to make these decisions for me because I knew he wouldn’t feel comfortable honoring the specific choices I would want.
When I prepare an Estate Plan, I focus heavily on Health Care Directives, often spending more time on them than on Wills or Trusts. These decisions—about ventilators, artificial nutrition, hydration, and other critical treatments—are deeply personal and profoundly impactful.
If you want to ensure your wishes for medical care are honored, I’d be happy to help you create or review your Advance Health Care Directive. Feel free to reach out.
