San Tan Valley Medical Directives Lawyer

San Tan Valley Medical Directives Attorney

Accidents and injuries can occur at any moment. They can leave you incapacitated and unable to advocate for yourself. Before a tragic event, securing a power of attorney for medical scenarios can prevent future issues when you cannot advocate for yourself. A San Tan Valley medical directives lawyer can help you make arrangements that ensure you and your loved one are taken care of after a serious incident or illness.

About Us

At CDM Law Firm, an affiliate of Elysium Legal, our team has spent decades advising the people of San Tan Valley, Chandler, Mesa, and cities throughout Southern Arizona in their medical directive legal matters.

Attorney at law C. David Martinez has over 25 years of experience handling cases ranging from creating simple wills to establishing complex estate plans. His efforts earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Overview of Medical Directives in San Tan Valley

Serious bodily harm can occur at any point throughout your day-to-day routine. In 2023, the Arizona Department of Health Services reported 71,015 trauma incidents treated in hospitals statewide.

The most common reason for visits was falls with 39,986 cases, followed by car crashes at 12,283 and being struck by objects at 3,791. These events can happen anywhere, whether you’re driving on East Hunt Highway or teeing off at San Tan Highlands.

Medical directives are a type of estate planning document made to detail your wishes for how you are treated when you cannot advocate for yourself. The two main types of arrangements are medical power of attorney and living wills.

Medical Power of Attorney

Medical power of attorney (MPOA) is a legal arrangement that allows someone to make decisions on your behalf when you are incapacitated. The two main parties involved are the principal, who creates the document and person it concerns, and the agent, who makes decisions for the principal following their wishes. These documents must be prepared while you are capable, and either signed by an impartial witness or by a notary.

Living Will

A living will has a similar structure to an MPOA, but focuses on terminal conditions or vegetative states. These dictate your treatment preferences and do not require an agent. Your living will can include factors such as pain management, ventilation, CPR, and other life support measures you wish to receive.

Other Medical Directive Documents

Medical power of attorney and living wills are the most common medical directive arrangements, but are not the only legal structures available. Other options include:

• Mental health care power of attorney
• Organ and tissue donation arrangements
• Do not resuscitate orders
• Comfort measures-only directives
• Do not intubate orders

Hire a Medical Directives lawyer

Establishing medical directives can be confusing for many Arizonans, with many potential mistakes and complexities. Hire a medical directives lawyer to help you create plans that can ensure your wishes are followed. Your San Tan Valley medical directives attorney can assist you in each step of the process. A few services that CDM Law Firm can provide include:

• Choosing a plan. Arizona has many medical directive options available. We can discuss healthcare power of attorney, living wills, and other plans to find an arrangement that matches your needs. If you are unsure of who to choose as your MPOA agent, we can discuss potential candidates.
• Drafting documents. The wording of your arrangements matters, as they only take effect when you cannot advocate for yourself. An experienced lawyer can draft the included documents, including specific details on how you want to be treated and what powers others have.
• Managing arrangements. Countless things in your life can change in the time following your initial medical directive arrangements. CDM Law Firm can help you make adjustments that match your current desires.
• Upholding wishes. If your medical directives take effect, your lawyer can uphold your wishes and diffuse potential familial disputes.

FAQs

Can a Doctor Override a Medical POA’s Decision in Arizona?

In Arizona, doctors can override a medical power of attorney’s decision under specific circumstances. One situation where a doctor can ignore a POA is if the agent’s decision directly contradicts the principal’s known wishes. Medical professionals may also deny a POA’s preference if they are seeking treatment that offers no medical benefit or may harm the principal.

Who Makes Medical Decisions if You Are Incapacitated in Arizona?

The person who makes medical decisions if you are incapacitated in Arizona is your agent under a power of attorney agreement. If no arrangements exist, the courts can order a surrogate decision maker based on a set hierarchy of relatives, starting with your spouse. Getting a court ruling can take time to grant and delay the needed treatment.

What Are the Types of Medical Directives in Arizona?

Arizona state law has many different types of medical directives you can use based on your wishes. A medical power of attorney can grant someone you trust the authority to make decisions for your treatment when incapacitated. Living wills can be used if you are terminally ill and want to secure your end-of-life plans. Other types of medical directives include do-not-resuscitate orders, organ donation desires, and treatment preferences.

How Long Do Medical Directives Take to Establish in Arizona?

How long it takes to establish your specific medical directives depends on your wishes and the complexities involved. The process is typically fast, as documents can be completed without filing with the Pinal County court system. Your particular case may take longer if you are unsure of your desired plan, complications arise, or it is a part of a larger estate plan.

Speak With a San Tan Valley Medical Directives Attorney Today

At CDM Law Firm, we know that no one wants to think about the potential for severe injuries, but making arrangements now can avoid additional stress later. Our team can use our decades of experience and knowledge to help you find a plan that works for you and your loved ones.

Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.