The durable power of attorney for health care is another documents that should go hand in hand with the living will as part of a person’s estate planning. The durable power of attorney for health care works much in the same manner as a limited power of attorney. It assigns the right of making health care decisions to a trusted party in the event the maker is incapacitated and not able to make decisions for themselves.

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Unless you were living deep in an underground cave in 2004, you remember the heart-wrenching story of Terry Schiavo and the controversy surrounding her death. Perhaps the only thing more tragic than the fact that the by all accounts wonderful person was living in a persistent vegetative state, was the battle that ensued between her ex-husband and her parents over whether to remove the feeding tube that was artificially maintaining Terry’s life.

If you’re like most of us, this story forced you to confront the issue of your own mortality, and what fate would befall you if you were in Terry’s situation. The good news is this does not have to be a roll of the dice. All of the arguments and heartbreak that took place within Terry’s family could have been prevented had she had a Living Will.

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