D.C. Power of Attorney Lawyers
Top-Rated Power of Attorney Lawyers
Experienced Washington, D.C. Powers of Attorney Lawyer
Antonoplos & Associates estate planning attorneys assist clients throughout Washington D.C. and Maryland with the preparation of Powers of Attorney. Whether it is the preparation of a Healthcare Power of Attorney, Living Will, Medical Visitation Directive, HIPAA Waiver, or other medical directives, our team of estate planning attorneys has the experience and knowledge to properly guide you through any legal issues that may occur. Having a valid power of attorney is a critical part of a complete estate plan.
Antonoplos & Associates estate planning attorneys will help ensure that your living wills and other power of attorney documents are clearly written. Furthermore, we make sure your estate planning documents are legally enforceable and contain your instructions regarding your preferences for medical care. Our proprietary advance directives and powers of attorney clearly set out your choices for doctors and caregivers in the event that you are terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia, or near the end of life. Having a valid DC healthcare power of attorney can make sure your wishes are known in the event that you are incapacitated. Let our estate planning attorneys work with you to draft a healthcare power of attorney that spells out your wishes in the event that you are incapacitated.
Why Choose Antonoplos & Associates?
What makes Antonoplos & Associates group of Washington, D.C. power of attorney lawyers so successful is that we expertly evaluate case by listening to the specific goals you would like to achieve and then directly work with you to determine how to best proseed.
We encourage you to call us at 202-803-5676 or directly schedule your free, no-risk consultation with one of our skilled attorneys today.
Important Questions to Consider when Choosing a Power of Attorney.
Consult with an Estate Lawyer On Your Power of Attorney
We strongly recommend that you plan ahead with the preparation of advanced directives and powers of attorney. You can get the medical care you want, avoid unnecessary suffering, and relieve caregivers of decisionmaking burdens during moments of crisis. Having clear advanced directives also helps reduce confusion or disagreement about the choices you would want people to make on your behalf. A well-written power of attorney can be the difference between life and death for many people.
Remember, advance directives aren’t just for older individuals. Unexpected situations can happen at any age, so it’s important for all individuals to prepare these documents. We recommend that anyone over the age of 18 have proper advanced directives in place. Anyone over the age of 18 should have a healthcare power of attorney to spell out who should make medical decisions in the event they are incapacitated. In addition, anyone over 18 should also have a financial power of attorney to spell out who should make financial decisions in the event they are incapacitated. A well-written power of attorney can protect you and your estate from unnecessary legal battles in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.A medical or healthcare power of attorney is a type of advance directive in which you name a person to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. In some states this directive may also be called a durable power of attorney for healthcare or a healthcare proxy.
The person you name may be a spouse, another family member, friend, or member of a faith community. You may also choose one or more alternates in case the person you chose is unable to fulfill his or her role.
Depending on where you live in the United States, the person you choose to make medical decisions may be called one of the following:
- Healthcare power of attorney
- Healthcare agent
- Healthcare proxy
- Healthcare surrogate
- Healthcare representative
- Healthcare attorney-in-fact
- Patient advocate
Choosing a person to act as your healthcare agent is important. Even if you have other legal documents regarding your care, not all situations can be anticipated and some situations will require someone to make a judgment about your end of life care wishes. As such, you should choose a person who meets the following criteria:
- Meets your state’s requirements for a health care agent
- Is not your doctor or a part of your medical care team
- Is willing and able to discuss medical care and endoflife issues with you
- Can be trusted to make decisions that adhere to your wishes and values
- Can be trusted to be your advocate if there are disagreements about your care
A living will is a written, legal document that spells out medical treatments you would and would not want to be used to keep you alive, as well as other decisions such as pain management or organ donation.
In determining your wishes, think about your values, such as the importance to you of being independent and self-sufficient, and what you feel would make your life not worth living. Would you want treatment to extend life in any situation? Would you want treatment only if a cure is possible?
Have discussions with your primary care doctor, your health care agent, family and friends about your personal wishes. Resources for organizing your own thoughts and having conversations with others about medical care and end of life care are available through the American Bar Association, the Conversation Project and the Center for Practical Bioethics.
End-Of-Life Care Decisions to Address in Your Living Will.
Please remember it is important to speak with you physician if you have questions about any of these issues:
- Resuscitation restarts the heart when it has stopped beating. Determine if and when you would want to be resuscitated by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or by a device that delivers an electric shock to stimulate the heart.
- Mechanical ventilation takes over your breathing if you’re unable to do so. Consider if, when and for how long you would want to be placed on a mechanical ventilator.
- Tube feeding supplies the body with nutrients and fluids intravenously or via a tube in the stomach. Decide if, when and for how long you would want to be fed in this manner.
- Dialysis removes waste from your blood and manages fluid levels if your kidneys no longer function. Determine if, when and for how long you would want to receive this treatment.
- Antibiotics or antiviral medications can be used to treat many infections. If you were near the end of life, would you want infections to be treated aggressively or would you rather let infections run their course?
- Comfort care (palliative care) includes any number of interventions that may be used to keep you comfortable and manage pain, while abiding by your other treatment wishes. This may include being allowed to die at home, getting pain medications, being fed ice chips to soothe dryness, and avoiding invasive tests or treatments.
- Organ and tissue donations for transplantation can be specified in your living will. If your organs are removed for donation, you will be kept on life-sustaining treatment temporarily until the procedure is complete. To help your agent avoid any confusion, you may want to state in your living will that you understand the need for this temporary intervention.
- Donating your body for scientific study also can be specified. Contact a local medical school, university or donation program for information on how to register for a planned donation for research.
You don’t need to have an advance directive or living will to have do not resuscitate (DNR) and do not intubate (DNI) orders. You can make your preferences known to your physician, who can write the orders and put them in your medical record.
If you have a living will, however, be sure to mention it and whether you have a DNR or DNI order on file.