Even though estate planning is something hard for people to discuss, it is so important to plan for the future and to be prepared for anything. Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and disposal of that person’s estate during the person’s life, in the event the person becomes incapacitated and after death. In addition to estate planning, advanced medical directives can help your loved ones carry out your wishes in the event of incapacitation. An advance directive typically includes a combination of three vital components: a healthcare power of attorney, a living will, and an anatomical gift authorization. Organ donations and advance medical directives are often things that are grazed over during the estate planning process.
Over 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ transplant. Unfortunately, there are not nearly enough organ donors registered to meet the demand. You, or someone you love, could save lives in the future with the decision to consider organ donation and advance directives in your estate planning process.
At McCutchen McLean, we not only help clients with estate planning and advance directives, but we also have first-hand experience with the organ donation process and how it affects individuals and families.
Attorney James McCutchen experienced this first hand when his father, William McCutchen, found out 10 years ago that a certain medication he had been taking had caused significant damage to his kidney, resulting in only 18% kidney function. After nearly six years of waiting on transplant lists in Georgia and South Carolina, he finally received his new kidney.
That’s why at McCutchen and McLean, we are very adamant with our clients that advanced directives and organ donations are critical components of estate planning.
“Having an advanced directive is very important. When an individual loses capacity due to an illness, their family members need to have access to their medical information and the ability to make medical decisions for their loved ones. Selecting an individual to make these decisions for you is perhaps one of the most important decisions an individual will ever make. I am glad my Dad selected me to make these decisions for him, and I am glad another individual made the decisions to donate their organs,” said Attorney James McCutchen.
Estate planning and advanced directives can not only reduce stress and potentially save a loved one’s life in the future, but you could also save the life of another. Contact McCutchen McLean today to get started with your estate plan and advanced directives.
