An Advance Health Care Directive lets you record your medical treatment preferences and designate a trusted person to make decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. At the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman, we help University Park and Orange County residents prepare clear, legally valid directives that reflect their values and priorities. This document works alongside other estate planning tools like a revocable living trust, financial power of attorney, and HIPAA authorization to create a coordinated plan. If you have questions about how an Advance Health Care Directive functions or how it fits into your broader plan, contact our office at 408-528-2827 for a consultation.
This guide explains the purpose of an Advance Health Care Directive, the key decisions it addresses, and practical steps to drafting and executing the document in California. You will find plain-language explanations of common terms, comparisons between narrowly worded instructions and more comprehensive approaches, and recommendations for choosing a health care agent. We also outline the firm’s approach and the process we use to create clear, durable documents that health care providers and family members can follow. Use this page to learn what to expect and how to move forward with confidence when planning for future medical decisions.
An Advance Health Care Directive provides clarity and direction at a time when decisions may be stressful for loved ones. By documenting your preferences for life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and other medical interventions, you reduce uncertainty and help caregivers and medical teams honor your wishes. Naming a trusted agent ensures someone you choose can speak with providers and make timely decisions that reflect your values. The directive also streamlines communication among family members, which can limit conflict and misinterpretation. For many people, the greatest benefit is peace of mind: knowing that a clear plan is in place lets you focus on living fully now while protecting your future wishes.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve clients throughout University Park and the broader Orange County and San Jose areas, offering focused estate planning services including Advance Health Care Directives, wills, trusts, and related documents. Our office prioritizes clear communication and careful documentation so your health care preferences are easily understood by medical staff and loved ones. We guide clients through practical choices such as selecting an agent and specifying treatment preferences, and we coordinate the directive with other planning documents like powers of attorney and HIPAA authorizations. To schedule a conversation about your objectives, call 408-528-2827 and we will arrange a consultive meeting.
An Advance Health Care Directive is a written legal document that sets out instructions for medical care and appoints an agent to make health decisions on your behalf if you become unable to decide or communicate. It can address life-prolonging measures, preferences about organ donation, comfort care, and other aspects of medical treatment. In California, the directive is recognized by providers and helps ensure your decisions guide medical care. The directive does not replace ongoing conversations with family and your primary care physician; instead, it formalizes your wishes and provides a reliable reference for medical teams and loved ones during urgent or complex situations.
Many people create an Advance Health Care Directive at the same time they update or prepare other estate planning documents. It works in conjunction with documents such as a revocable living trust, a financial power of attorney, and a HIPAA authorization to make sure financial, legal, and medical affairs are coordinated. A properly drafted directive clarifies relationships among documents so that the person you name as agent can carry out medical decisions without undue delay. Regular review of the directive is important to confirm that it reflects current preferences, especially after major life events or significant changes in health or family dynamics.
An Advance Health Care Directive typically includes two primary elements: instructions about the types of medical care you want or do not want, and the appointment of a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf. Instructions may be general, like prioritizing comfort over aggressive treatment, or more detailed, such as preferences for mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, or resuscitation efforts. The directive can also include guidance for end-of-life care, organ donation choices, and statements about pain management. Additional forms such as a HIPAA authorization are often included so the agent can access medical records and communicate with providers as needed.
Creating an effective Advance Health Care Directive involves several steps: reviewing your values and medical preferences, choosing a dependable health care agent, drafting clear instructions, and ensuring the document meets California legal requirements for signatures and witnesses. You should discuss your wishes with the intended agent and key family members, and provide copies to your agent, primary care provider, and any specialists involved in your care. Keeping a recorded list of physicians, medical conditions, and medications can help inform your directive. Finally, store the original document where it will be accessible in an emergency and update it when circumstances change.
Understanding common terms helps when preparing an Advance Health Care Directive. This glossary covers words you will encounter, such as health care agent, living will, HIPAA authorization, and power of attorney. Each term is presented with a clear definition and how it functions within your overall plan. Knowing these definitions makes it easier to make informed choices about who to name as an agent, what medical interventions you want to accept or decline, and how your directive interacts with other estate planning documents. Familiarity with these terms also improves communication with medical staff and family members.
An Advance Health Care Directive is a legal statement describing medical preferences and naming an agent to make health decisions when you cannot. It is sometimes referred to as a living will or durable power of attorney for health care, and it may include specific instructions about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and comfort care. In California, the directive enables a chosen individual to access medical information and communicate with providers on your behalf when paired with necessary releases. The directive provides clarity to medical teams and loved ones and reduces the burden of decision-making during stressful times.
A health care agent is the person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This person should be someone you trust to honor your preferences and to communicate effectively with medical professionals and family members. The agent’s responsibilities may include consenting to or refusing treatment, choosing providers, and interpreting your documented wishes in specific clinical circumstances. It is important to discuss your values and medical priorities with the chosen agent so they can act confidently and in accordance with your intentions when decisions arise.
A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is a type of Advance Health Care Directive that specifically appoints an agent empowered to make medical decisions on your behalf. Unlike a general power of attorney for finances, the durable healthcare version remains effective even if you become incapacitated. The document typically outlines the scope of the agent’s authority and may include explicit instructions about treatment preferences. Including a durable provision ensures the agent’s authority persists during periods of incapacity, enabling timely decisions without requiring additional court proceedings.
A HIPAA authorization permits your health care agent and other designated individuals to access protected medical records and speak with providers about your condition and treatment options. Without a signed HIPAA release, medical professionals may be restricted from sharing details with family or agents, which can impede decision-making. Including a HIPAA authorization alongside an Advance Health Care Directive ensures your agent can obtain relevant medical information promptly, review test results and treatment plans, and coordinate with healthcare teams to make informed decisions that align with your stated wishes.
When planning your Advance Health Care Directive, you can choose narrowly worded instructions focused on specific scenarios or adopt a broader, more comprehensive approach. Narrow instructions are sometimes sufficient for people with very clear, limited preferences about particular interventions. A comprehensive directive anticipates a range of medical situations and provides detailed guidance regarding life support, comfort care, and appointment of alternate agents. Which route is appropriate depends on your personal goals, the complexity of your health situation, and how much discretion you want to give your chosen agent when unforeseen circumstances arise.
A limited directive can work well for individuals who have highly specific preferences that are unlikely to change and whose medical choices are straightforward. For example, someone who firmly intends to decline resuscitation or mechanical ventilation in all circumstances may prefer a concise document that states that preference clearly. A shorter directive can be easier for providers and family to interpret quickly, reducing ambiguity. It is important, however, to ensure the language is precise and legally valid in California so the document will be followed when it matters most.
Simplified Advance Health Care Directives may suit individuals in good health who are planning proactively but do not anticipate complex medical decisions. A concise document paired with a signed HIPAA authorization and a brief discussion with the appointed agent can be sufficient for routine care and elective procedures. While a simplified approach reduces paperwork and complexity, it still requires careful wording and appropriate signatures to be valid. Periodic review is recommended to confirm the document remains aligned with current wishes and circumstances.
A comprehensive directive is advisable for individuals with complex medical conditions, multiple treatment preferences, or a desire to limit potential disputes among family members. A detailed directive can provide guidance on a variety of scenarios and name alternate agents if the primary agent is unavailable. It can also provide instructions about pain management, palliative care, and preferences for experimental treatments. Comprehensive planning reduces uncertainty and helps ensure that medical decisions made under stress follow the principles you set out in advance.
When you have an extensive estate plan, multiple trusts, or special arrangements such as a special needs trust or pet trust, coordinating your Advance Health Care Directive with those documents is important. A coordinated plan ensures your healthcare agent understands how medical choices interact with financial and end-of-life planning, and that other legal instruments do not produce conflicting instructions. In those situations, legal guidance can help integrate medical directives with your overall estate strategy to preserve your intentions across all areas of your plan.
A comprehensive Advance Health Care Directive creates clarity for medical providers and family members by outlining a wide range of preferences and naming backup agents. This level of detail helps reduce hesitation and delays in treatment decisions, particularly in emergencies or when clinical judgment is required. Having a thorough directive also reduces the likelihood of family disputes over treatment choices, since the document serves as a clear statement of your wishes. For many clients, this clarity improves communication and preserves dignity during serious illness or end-of-life care.
Beyond reducing conflict, a comprehensive approach provides flexibility to address unique health concerns, cultural values, or faith-based considerations. It allows you to combine specific instructions with broader statements of values so your agent can interpret your intentions in unforeseen circumstances. When paired with supporting documents like a HIPAA authorization and a financial power of attorney, the comprehensive directive becomes part of an integrated plan that supports both medical decision-making and overall estate administration. Regular review keeps the directive current with evolving wishes and medical advances.
Drafting a comprehensive directive gives you the opportunity to specify preferences about treatments you would accept or decline and to describe values that should guide decisions. This level of control ensures that your voice is present even if you cannot speak for yourself, guiding providers and your appointed agent. Careful documentation can address scenarios such as terminal illness, persistent vegetative state, or temporary incapacity, and it can set expectations for pain management and comfort care. The clarity you provide helps ensure decisions are made in alignment with your goals.
A well-crafted directive can ease the emotional burden on loved ones by clearly communicating what you want rather than leaving them to guess. When an appointed agent and family members have access to a directive that outlines your priorities, the likelihood of disagreements decreases. This clarity supports quicker, more cohesive decision-making in stressful medical situations and allows family members to focus on support and care. Sharing your directive in advance and discussing your choices can further strengthen family understanding and reduce the risk of later disputes.
Selecting the right health care agent is one of the most important choices you will make when creating a directive. Look for someone who understands your values, communicates well under pressure, and can coordinate with medical professionals and family members. Discuss hypothetical scenarios with the proposed agent so they understand your preferences and can act in accordance with your wishes. Consider naming an alternate agent in case the primary agent is unavailable. Providing clear written guidance and sharing documentation with the agent helps ensure that decisions will reflect your intentions when the time comes.
Your medical preferences and family circumstances may change over time, so it is wise to review your Advance Health Care Directive periodically and after significant life events such as diagnosis of a new condition, a change in relationships, or relocation. Confirm that your chosen agent remains willing and able to serve, and update contact information for healthcare providers. When you make revisions, inform your agent and distribute updated copies to providers and loved ones. Regular review ensures the directive continues to reflect your values and provides current guidance when decisions are needed.
Creating an Advance Health Care Directive offers protection and clarity whether you are preparing for a planned procedure, managing a chronic condition, or simply planning ahead. It gives you control over medical treatment decisions, reduces the burden on family members, and ensures your preferences guide care if you cannot communicate them yourself. For people with complex medical issues or multiple caregivers, a directive helps coordinate decisions and avoids unnecessary delays. Starting the process early allows time for reflection, discussion with loved ones, and thoughtful drafting so the document accurately represents your wishes.
An Advance Health Care Directive also supports continuity of care by providing medical teams with clear instructions and by granting authorized individuals access to necessary health information when combined with a HIPAA authorization. This coordinated approach speeds decision making during emergencies and helps your agent work effectively with physicians and hospitals. Legal guidance can help you articulate nuanced preferences and ensure the document meets California requirements for validity. Taking these steps now can provide reassurance to you and your family that decisions will reflect your values when it matters most.
Advance Health Care Directives are commonly used before elective surgeries and major procedures to clarify preferences and appoint someone to handle questions if complications arise. People with chronic conditions such as heart disease, neurological disorders, or progressive illnesses often create directives to define thresholds for interventions. Those who travel frequently, live alone, or have family members in different states also benefit from naming a local agent with authority to make decisions quickly. In every case, the directive helps ensure decisions are guided by your values rather than guesswork by others.
Before scheduled surgeries or medical procedures, an Advance Health Care Directive clarifies whether you want life-sustaining measures used in the event of complications. Having the document in place ensures that your wishes are known to the surgical team and that your appointed agent can make decisions if you are temporarily unable to consent. Discussing your preferences with both your surgeon and your chosen agent in advance helps everyone understand potential outcomes and your desired course of action. This preparation can reduce stress and provide a clear plan for care during recovery.
Individuals with chronic or progressive medical conditions benefit from an Advance Health Care Directive because it allows them to outline how aggressive they want treatment to be as the condition evolves. The directive can specify thresholds for hospital-based interventions, preferences for palliative care, and plans for long-term management. Providing these directives early allows patients to document their goals for quality of life and to appoint an agent who can work with specialists to implement that plan. Periodic review ensures the document remains aligned with changing medical circumstances and personal priorities.
Older adults and those experiencing declining physical or cognitive capacity often put an Advance Health Care Directive in place to ensure decisions remain aligned with their values as needs change. The directive allows an appointed agent to make timely choices about hospitalization, home care, and end-of-life planning, eliminating uncertainty for family members. In addition to medical preferences, older adults may include guidance about long-term care, hospice, and comfort-focused treatment, which helps caregivers follow a consistent plan and supports dignity during serious illness.
The Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman serve University Park residents and the surrounding Orange County communities. We provide practical legal guidance on Advance Health Care Directives, living wills, HIPAA releases, and related estate planning documents. Our goal is to help you create clear, legally effective documents that reflect your wishes and make it easier for family members and medical providers to follow those wishes. To discuss your needs or arrange an appointment, call our office at 408-528-2827 and we will help you begin the planning process with clarity and thoughtful attention to your priorities.
Clients choose the Law Offices of Robert P. Bergman for practical, personalized estate planning that includes Advance Health Care Directives, HIPAA authorizations, and coordinating documents such as wills and trusts. Our approach focuses on listening to your values and creating clear documents that healthcare providers and appointed agents can follow. We assist with drafting precise language, explaining California legal requirements, and advising on how best to integrate medical directives with your broader estate plan. This ensures your medical wishes are documented and accessible when needed.
We work with clients to select and prepare a health care agent who understands their wishes and can act decisively when necessary. We also advise on practical considerations such as storage, distribution of copies, and how to present documents to medical teams. Attention to these details helps avoid confusion in emergencies and makes implementation smoother. Our firm serves clients across University Park and Orange County and provides guidance tailored to each person’s health circumstances and family dynamics, so decisions are supported by thoughtful legal documentation.
When you engage our office, we coordinate your Advance Health Care Directive with other estate planning instruments such as revocable living trusts, financial powers of attorney, and guardianship nominations if needed. This integrated approach helps ensure consistency across documents and reduces the potential for conflicting instructions. We provide clear next steps for signing and distributing directives and can recommend best practices for updating documents over time. To learn more or to arrange a consult, contact us at 408-528-2827 and we will help you take action.
Our process begins with a conversation to understand your medical preferences and family situation, followed by drafting a directive tailored to your wishes. We explain available options and how those choices work in real medical scenarios. After drafting, we review the document together, make any needed revisions, and advise on signing and witness requirements to ensure validity in California. We also provide guidance on distribution and storage so the right people have access when necessary. Periodic review is encouraged to keep the directive current as circumstances change.
During the initial consultation we gather relevant medical history, your values about end-of-life and serious illness care, and family contact information. We discuss possible scenarios and the types of decisions your agent may need to make, and we identify any preferences for specific treatments or limitations. This conversation helps us draft language that accurately captures your wishes and anticipates realistic medical situations. We also explain how the directive interacts with other estate planning documents and recommend any additional forms that may be useful, such as a HIPAA authorization.
We take time to explore your values and treatment preferences so the directive reflects your priorities. This includes discussing life-sustaining interventions, pain management, and scenarios where comfort care may be preferred. By documenting not only specific treatment choices but also the underlying goals of care, the directive becomes a useful guide for your agent and providers when interpreting decisions under uncertain circumstances. Clear communication during this step reduces ambiguity and helps ensure your medical preferences are respected.
Choosing the right agent involves evaluating who can advocate for you calmly and who understands your wishes. We help you identify a primary and alternate agent, discuss the responsibilities involved, and suggest ways to prepare them for decision-making, including sharing your directive and medical history. Preparing the agent ahead of time and documenting their authority helps avoid delays in care and reduces the chance of disputes. We also recommend discussing the role with family members so expectations are clear.
Once preferences and agent choices are finalized, we draft a directive tailored to your needs and consistent with California law. The document will include clear instructions and any necessary releases such as HIPAA authorization to allow the agent access to medical records. We aim for language that is precise yet flexible enough to address unforeseen medical developments. After drafting, we review the document with you and make revisions until you are satisfied that it accurately captures your intentions and provides useful guidance for the agent and healthcare providers.
During drafting we focus on clarity to avoid confusion in stressful situations. This includes stating preferences for interventions, describing goals for quality of life, and including any religious or philosophical considerations that should guide decisions. We avoid vague phrases and instead use concrete examples and scenarios where possible so your agent and medical team have actionable instructions. Clear drafting reduces interpretation disputes and helps your agent make decisions aligned with your documented wishes.
In addition to the directive itself, we often prepare ancillary documents such as a HIPAA authorization and, if needed, a separate living will to address specific instructions. Including these documents ensures your agent has legal access to medical records and that providers have clear written guidance. When appropriate, we coordinate the directive with your financial power of attorney and trust documents to form a cohesive estate plan. Proper execution of all documents increases the likelihood they will be followed when decisions are needed.
After finalizing the directive, we guide you through the signing and witnessing or notarization requirements to ensure the document is valid and recognized by healthcare providers. We advise on the best practices for storing the original document and distributing certified copies to your agent, family members, and medical providers. We also recommend registering the directive where appropriate and documenting its location in your records. Ensuring easy access to the directive and related releases helps reduce delays and confusion in urgent situations.
California has specific rules for witnessing and notarization that affect the enforceability of an Advance Health Care Directive, so we provide guidance to satisfy those requirements. We advise on who may serve as witnesses, when notarization is recommended, and how to handle execution if mobility or incapacity makes in-person signatures difficult. Proper execution protects against challenges and ensures healthcare providers will accept the directive when decisions arise. Our office can help coordinate signing logistics to make the process straightforward and legally sound.
Distributing copies of the directive to your appointed agent, physician, and family members is an essential final step. We recommend providing both a signed original for secure storage and copies for those who may need to consult it in an emergency. Informing your primary care provider and hospital of the directive’s existence and location helps integrate it into your medical record. Clear communication with loved ones about your wishes reduces misunderstanding and prepares them to support your agent when decisions are required.
An Advance Health Care Directive is a written legal instrument that records your preferences for medical treatment and appoints a person to make health care decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. The document can address life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, tube feeding, palliative care, and other significant medical choices. When you lose the ability to communicate, your appointed agent uses the directive and any stated values to guide decisions. The directive does not replace conversations with your physicians; rather, it complements medical advice by providing a clear statement of your wishes that providers and family members can follow. The directive takes effect when you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to make informed medical decisions, and it is used by your health care agent and providers to determine appropriate treatment. In California, combining the directive with a HIPAA authorization improves access to medical records and facilitates communication. The directive should be stored where it can be quickly retrieved, and copies should be given to your agent, family members, and primary care provider so it is available when needed. Regular review ensures it reflects current preferences.
When selecting a health care agent choose someone who understands your values, can communicate under stress, and is willing to make potentially difficult decisions on your behalf. Consider practical aspects like geographic proximity, availability, and the ability to coordinate with medical teams and family members. You should also discuss your wishes in advance so the chosen person is prepared to act consistently with your preferences and can feel comfortable carrying out your instructions. Naming an alternate agent is a prudent backup if your primary agent is unavailable or unable to serve. It is important to ensure the person you name is willing to accept the role and understands the scope of responsibility. Clear written guidance within the directive reduces ambiguity and supports the agent’s decision-making. If relationships change or the agent can no longer serve, update your directive promptly and distribute the new version to relevant parties. Preparing your agent with copies of medical records and a summary of your values streamlines the decision process when an urgent situation arises.
An Advance Health Care Directive focuses on medical decisions and naming a health care agent, while a living will or revocable living trust generally handles property distribution and financial matters. Although they address different areas, these documents often work together as part of a comprehensive estate plan. For example, a financial power of attorney handles monetary affairs if you are incapacitated, while the health care agent addresses medical choices. Coordinating these documents ensures consistency in appointed decision-makers and avoids conflicting instructions between legal instruments. Integrating the directive with your broader estate plan improves overall effectiveness and reduces the likelihood of unintended consequences. When drafting documents, consider naming the same trusted individuals across instruments where appropriate and ensure each document reflects your current wishes. Legal guidance can help align provisions and identify whether additional documents, such as a HIPAA authorization or guardianship nominations, are recommended given your situation.
Yes, including a HIPAA authorization with your Advance Health Care Directive is strongly recommended because it permits your agent and other designated individuals to obtain protected health information from medical providers. Without a signed HIPAA release, privacy laws may limit the amount of medical information providers can share with family or agents, which can hinder decision-making. The authorization ensures your agent has timely access to records, test results, and provider communications necessary to make informed choices on your behalf. A HIPAA authorization is a separate, signed document that complements the directive and can be tailored to specify which individuals may access medical records and for how long. When prepared together, the directive and HIPAA release create an effective framework for your agent to communicate with healthcare professionals and implement your wishes. Be sure to distribute copies to your agent and healthcare providers to avoid delays during medical emergencies.
Review your Advance Health Care Directive periodically and after significant life events, such as a major change in health, a move to a new state, a change in family dynamics, or the appointment of a new caregiver. Medical advances and personal preferences can evolve over time, so periodic review helps ensure your document remains aligned with current values and circumstances. Many people check their directives every few years or when they update other estate planning documents to maintain consistency across their plan. If you decide to change your agent, update treatment preferences, or add instructions, prepare a revised directive and follow California’s execution requirements for validity. Distribute updated copies to your agent, family, and healthcare providers and remove or clearly mark any prior versions. Consistent distribution and documentation reduce the risk of confusion and make it more likely that your latest wishes will be honored.
If family members disagree with your directive, the written document typically governs the decisions to be made and the authority of your appointed agent. A clearly drafted directive provides legal direction that healthcare providers generally follow, which helps prevent disputes from overriding your expressed wishes. Clear communication with family members beforehand and providing them with copies of the directive can reduce the likelihood of disagreement by setting expectations in advance. In cases where disputes persist, medical providers, ethics committees, or courts may be involved to resolve conflicts, which can delay care. To minimize the potential for conflict, work to ensure the directive is clear and unambiguous, choose an agent who can communicate calmly with family members, and consider discussing your rationale with close relatives so they understand the preferences you have documented.
Yes, your health care agent can access your medical records if you include a HIPAA authorization that grants them that right. The HIPAA release allows medical providers to share protected health information with the agent so they can make informed decisions consistent with your wishes. Without this authorization, privacy regulations may limit what providers can disclose, which can hinder the agent’s ability to understand the full medical picture and act effectively on your behalf. Including a HIPAA authorization alongside the directive streamlines communication and reduces delays, especially in emergencies. Make sure the authorization names the agent and any alternates explicitly, and provide copies to your agent and healthcare providers. This ensures the agent can obtain necessary records promptly and coordinate care in line with the directive.
California has specific requirements related to witnessing and notarization for Advance Health Care Directives, and following those rules helps ensure the document will be accepted by healthcare providers. Typically the directive should be signed in the presence of appropriate witnesses or notarized when necessary, and certain people, such as beneficiaries of your estate, may be excluded from serving as witnesses. If mobility or incapacity presents a signing challenge, there are procedures to execute documents in alternative ways to preserve validity under state law. We advise clients on the correct execution steps to meet California standards, including witness selection and notarization when appropriate. Proper execution reduces the chance of the directive being challenged or ignored. After signing, distribute copies to your agent and providers and store the original in a secure, accessible location so it can be produced when needed.
Yes, you can limit the powers of your health care agent by including specific instructions in your directive and naming alternate agents in case the primary agent is unavailable. The directive can outline the scope of decision-making authority, such as permission to consent to or refuse certain treatments, and can state particular limitations or conditions under which the agent should act. Naming alternates provides continuity if the first choice cannot serve, which is helpful for ensuring timely decisions in emergencies. When restricting authority, be careful to use language that remains clear and practical for real-world medical situations so the agent can still act effectively. Overly restrictive or ambiguous limitations can create difficulty for both agents and providers. Legal guidance helps craft balanced provisions that reflect your wishes while remaining actionable for those responsible for care.
To ensure hospitals and doctors are aware of your directive, provide copies to your primary care physician, any specialists, and the medical records department of hospitals where you receive care. Inform the staff at the time of admission that an Advance Health Care Directive exists and where the signed original or copies can be located. Many healthcare systems allow you to upload or register directives in their electronic records so it is readily visible to treating clinicians when needed. Additionally, provide a copy to your appointed agent and close family members so they can present it if you are unable to do so. Carrying a card in your wallet that indicates the existence and location of your directive can be helpful during emergencies. Ensuring these steps are taken increases the likelihood that your wishes will be recognized and followed promptly by medical teams.
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