Representing Sellers and Buyers of Homes and Other Real Estate

Wills, Trusts, Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Other Estate Planning

Law Offices of James B. Spina, Ltd.

Experience Counts

Serving the Chicago Metropolitan Area since 1979

 
 


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WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE?

If you are sick or injured and cannot make your own health care decisions, whom do you want to make those decisions for you?  Illinois law provides for a Power of Attorney for Health Care so you can answer this question for your doctor or hospital.

What if you are

Hurt in an accident, and need surgery,

Sick and unable to answer your doctor about your choices for treatment options,

Unconscious and unable to direct your medical care,

Badly injured and a decision must be made about the use of
life-support machines?

 

Who will decide for you  —  a stranger; or worse, a court of law?

There are times when you must rely on someone else's judgment. In doing so, you take a risk: Will that person make the same choices that you would? If not, what could you lose? 

Consider the example of sending someone to the grocery store for a loaf of bread.  Will it cost more than you think is reasonable?  Will it be your favorite brand?  Will you get rye when you wanted white?

The shopper who knows your taste in bread, how you feel about grocery prices, and cares enough to apply your standards to the selection will bring home exactly what you wanted. Someone else might simply buy their favorite bread. When your shopper gets to the store, there might be many varieties of bread to choose from.  Will it be white, wheat or rye?  Vienna, sourdough or pumpernickel?  Locally baked, store label or national brand?  A person who knows your taste and can see the store's available options can make a sensible choice that will satisfy your needs.

You should be the one to make a health care decision that could affect the rest of your life.  If you cannot do it yourself, the next best thing is to pick the person who does it for you.  The Power of Attorney for Health Care tells a doctor or hospital who you have selected to make these choices.

What if the person you name is not available when needed?  Your document can list as many choices as you wish in the order of your preference.  If the first person named is unable or unwilling to act, the authority will go to the next person on the list.

The Power of Attorney for Health Care can also designate the person you would want to be your guardian if a court should ever find you incompetent to handle your own affairs.

What if you change your mind?  No problem.  You can change or revoke your Power of Attorney for Health Care as you wish.

No one wants to think about being helpless; seriously ill or badly injured.  If it should happen, though, your Power of Attorney for Health Care could be an extremely valuable tool.

A few minutes of planning today can make that tool available if you need it.

708-647-1900

jbs@SpinaLaw.com

 

 
 

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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE.     IT IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE IN ANY RESPECT.  CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE SPECIFIC TO YOUR NEEDS.    

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All material on this website copyright © 1996 – 2008
 

Partial list of communities served:  Homewood, Flossmoor, Matteson, Lynwood, Olympia Fields, Glenwood, Park Forest, Richton Park, Lansing, Sauk Village, Beecher, Chicago Heights, South Chicago Heights, Steger, Country Club Hills, Tinley Park, Hazel Crest, East Hazel Crest, Thornton, Crete, Monee, Peotone, Markham, Calumet City, University Park, Wilmington, Manhattan, Calumet Park, Dixmoor, Dolton, Harvey, Phoenix, South Holland, Ford Heights, Robbins, Chicago, Illinois