Arizona’s Laws on Advance Directives

Arizona’s Laws on Advance Directives

An Advance Directive is a legal document which describes your personal preferences regarding medical care. They are designed to protect your interests in the event that you become unable to speak on your own behalf. Arizona residents can choose from three types of advance directives: living wills, powers of attorney for medical care, and DNR orders. The Arizona estate planning laws allow for three types of advance directives. Let’s look at them in more detail. You can use an advanced directive to specify the type of medical treatment you want to receive. You can also appoint someone to make medical decisions for you. Some people have a preference for certain doctors. Some people are averse to certain medical procedures. With an advance directive, they can rest assured that their wishes will be respected even if they are unable speak for themselves. For example, if they are incapacitated by a stroke or by dementia having an advance directive in place will ensure that their healthcare preferences are honored.Arizona Estate Planning Law Covers Several Types of Advance Directives

Let’s review the different types of advance directives or “health care directives” available to Arizona residents. According to Arizona law, there are four different types of documents to choose from:

Living Will

Medical Power of AttorneyMental Health Care Power of AttorneyPrehospital Medical Care Directive (DNR)

Let’s take a closer look at how these health care directives work.

Living Will

This legal document explains your preferences for medical care. It is a guide for when you are unable to speak on your own behalf. A living will, for example, can help your doctor make informed decisions about your medical care if you’re under anesthesia during an operation.

Health Care Power of attorney

1. If desired, you can appoint an agent or surrogate. They can make medical choices on your behalf. If you don’t have advance directives, someone else will be responsible for making medical decisions on your behalf. You can choose to give the responsibility of making medical decisions to your spouse first, then to your children (if they’re adults), to your parents or to
2. someone close to you
3. . A mental health care POA, also known as a durable power of attorney
4. , is a type that allows a surrogate agent to make decisions on your behalf in the event you become incapable. If you have dementia, for example, your mental POA agent can act in your best interest. If you do not have a mental health POA, the responsibility would fall to your medical POA.

Prehospital Medical Care Directives

Also known as a “Do Not Resuscitate” or “DNR” this

advance directive

instructs emergency personnel not to revive you against your wishes. It must be signed and dated by a licensed healthcare provider. If you are facing a terminal illness and do not want CPR, a prehospital medical care directive will ease your passing.

How to Prepare Advance Directives in ArizonaAppoint a surrogate. Talk to them about your preferences, and make sure they are willing to accept this responsibility.Draw up your documents. You can find advance directive forms online, but you should meet with an attorney to discuss your options. This nonprofit organization provides a secure place to store your records and makes it easier for your healthcare provider to locate your directives. This nonprofit organization provides a secure place to store your records and makes it easier for your healthcare provider to locate your directives.

You should also give a copy of your advance directives to your primary care provider, your medical POA (if you have one), and the executor of your will.

Arizona Estate Planning LawyersThe state of Arizona has laws in place to protect your decisions regarding medical care. The estate planning attorneys at Phelps LaClair can help you set up an advanced directive. Our experts will guide you through the process and give you and your family peace of mind. We have several convenient locations in the Phoenix area including Mesa Sedona and Tucson. Contact us today for an appointment with our legal staff.

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1. used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 9/22/24.

2. Story originally seen here