A new program - Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) - aims to increase the numbers of Americans with comprehensive plans for their end-of-life care. Current research indicates that only about one-third of Americans have valid plans for their future health care needs.
The best end-of-life planning documents:
- Reduce the cost of unwanted life-saving and life-prolonging measures
- Avoid tasking loved ones with the difficult decisions associated with discontinuing care
- Prevent procedures and the use of devices that are unwanted by the patient and could possibly cause harm
- Evolve as the patient's needs change and/or health situation improves or deteriorates
- Adequately prepare health care decision-makers about the types of things that will be expected of them in the event of the patient's incapacity
In addition to prevent unwanted treatment and incurring unnecessary costs for the patient, proper end-of-life planning can have an enormous impact on the mental well-being of the person designated to make difficult health care decisions for a loved one. Surveys of health care "surrogates" indicate that at least one-third of them suffer a negative emotional reaction - like guilt, stress and doubt - when forced to make unexpected, possibly life-ending decision that will directly affect someone they care about. Advance planning can prevent those types of negative consequences for surrogates and can also prevent future medical malpractice or professional negligence claims against health providers.
If you have questions about end-of-life planning in New Jersey or want to learn more about the importance of providing clear direction to your health care surrogates, contact an experienced attorney in your area.
