(FLORIDA) - An advance directive, or legal document that states your healthcare wishes if you were ever unable to make decisions on your own, is a crucial piece of elder law planning at Florida Rural Legal Services. FRLS, our non-profit law firm, provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
An advance directive can tell your family and caretakers your decisions involving life support, end-of-life care, or designation of a healthcare surrogate. If you’re wondering why this is relevant to an adult in good health, the answer is: life is unpredictable, and we can’t always control what happens to us. It's always better to be prepared well before you think you need to have protections put in place.
Here’s a fictional scenario of why an advance directive is important:
Jamie, a 38-year-old, active adult with no major health problems. He lives with his long-term partner Meg, but they aren't legally married. One day on the way home from work, Jamie is in a serious car accident and falls into a coma, unable to communicate. The hospital needs someone to make medical decisions on his behalf but without an advance directive, they legally must turn to his next of kin: his estranged parents. Meg, the person Jamie trusts to make his health care decisions, has no legal say.
Here’s how the story would go if Jamie had an advance directive:
Jamie completed an advance directive with a FRLS attorney after hearing about our services from a friend. He named Meg as his health care surrogate and stated his wishes clearly in case of an emergency. When the accident happened, the hospital followed his documented plan and Meg was given the legal authority to make Jamie’s decisions, ensuring his wishes were honored despite not being able to speak for himself.
Medical emergencies can happen at any time to anyone, and it’s best to be prepared ahead of time, as legal documents need to be created while a person has the mental capacity to make their own decisions.
Contact us to see if you qualify for our free elder law services today at 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at FRLS.org/intake.
About Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc.
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice.