The recent news stories involving Jahi McMath and Marlise Munoz have drawn renewed attention to the concept of brain death and how it plays a role in incapacity planning. When you make an incapacity plan, it’s important to understand medical terminology like brain death and other ideas so you can make knowledgeable choices. To that end, let’s take a look at some important ideas … read more
Advance Directives
Incapacity Planning Means Every Adult Needs to Have Power of Attorney
A lot of people in the Greensboro, North Carolina area have heard the term “power of attorney” but do not really know what it is. To put it simply, a power of attorney is a legal document that gives you the ability to grant someone else the legal authority to make decisions for you. Whether you want that person to act in a limited fashion, have broad decision-making abilities, or only … read more
Texas Court Orders Pregnant Woman Removed From Life Support
A couple of weeks ago we wrote about the case of Marlise Munoz, a Fort Worth, Texas woman who was left brain dead after suffering a pulmonary embolism. Her husband, Eric Munoz, had been fighting with the Texas hospital caring for Marlise, demanding that they take her off the life-support, he says she would not have wanted to receive. To complicate the matter, Marlise was pregnant at the … read more
Wife Brain Dead and Pregnant and Hospital Won’t Remove Life Support
A recent story out of Texas is drawing new attention to the significant differences between state laws that address advance directives and medical wishes made by pregnant women. Late last year, Dallas-Fort Worth area paramedic Eric Munoz discovered his wife, Marlise, unconscious on the floor of their home. His wife, who was pregnant at the time, remained unresponsive to his efforts to … read more
Making Changes to Your Advance Directives in North Carolina
Taking the time to create advance directives as a part of a comprehensive estate plan is an essential step for any adult living in the Greensboro, North Carolina area. The process of creating advance directives in North Carolina is not too difficult, and it’s something that every capable adult can do at any time. As long as you know the kind of medical treatment you would want to receive … read more
Think Twice Before Getting a DNR Tattoo
A little over a year ago an 80-year-old woman in England had the phrase “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed on her chest. For those of you who do not know, a DNR order, or do not resuscitate order, is a medical directive that states your desire for not receiving CPR should your heart stop. While having your medical wishes tattooed on your body may seem like an appealing idea to you, there … read more
