Advance Directives | Haskell & Dyer
Your Medical Wishes, in Writing, in the Voice of Someone You Trust.
An advance directive spells out your medical wishes and names the person who speaks for you if you cannot speak for yourself. It is also called a living will and healthcare power of attorney. We help you put yours in place.
Why Families Are Grateful for These
It takes the hardest decision off your loved ones.
When a medical crisis hits and you cannot speak, your family is left guessing what you would want, often under pressure and among themselves. An advance directive gives them your answer in your words, and names one person to decide. That spares them an impossible choice.
The Two Parts
What an Advance Directive Covers
An advance directive does two jobs: it states your wishes, and it names who carries them out.
Your Wishes
Living Will
A living will states what kind of medical care you do and do not want if you are seriously ill and cannot decide for yourself, especially around life-sustaining treatment. It gives your doctors and family clear direction in your own words.
Your Voice
Healthcare Agent
A healthcare power of attorney names the person who makes medical decisions for you when you cannot. This agent speaks with your voice, handles the choices a document cannot foresee, and works from the wishes you have set out.
What You Can Spell Out
The Decisions You Get to Direct
You decide as much or as little as you want in advance. These are the common areas.
Life-sustaining treatment
Resuscitation preferences
Your healthcare agent
A backup agent
Comfort and pain care
Religious or personal wishes
Why It Matters
What an Advance Directive Gives Everyone
This document is as much for your family as it is for you.
VoiceYour wishes are followed, even in silence
ClarityOne person is clearly in charge
UnityLess room for family to disagree
DignityCare that matches what you value
How We Help You Put One in Place
We make a heavy subject feel manageable: clear choices, the right agent, and a document the hospital will honor.
We Walk Through the Choices
We explain the decisions in plain terms so you can set your wishes thoughtfully, without medical jargon.
We Help You Name an Agent
We talk through who can carry this out under pressure, and a backup, so the right person holds the role.
We Draft It to Be Honored
We prepare it to meet Maryland's requirements so doctors and hospitals will follow it when it counts.
We Fit It With Your Plan
Your advance directive works alongside your financial power of attorney and the rest of your plan.
Common Questions
Advance Directives, Answered
What's the difference between a living will and a healthcare power of attorney?
A living will states your wishes about medical care, especially life-sustaining treatment, when you cannot speak for yourself. A healthcare power of attorney names a person to make medical decisions on your behalf. They work together: the living will gives direction, and the agent applies it to the real situation. Most advance directives include both.
Who should I name as my healthcare agent?
Choose someone you trust to honor your wishes and stay calm under pressure, even if a doctor or another family member pushes back. It does not have to be a spouse or the oldest child. Pick the person most able to advocate for you, talk with them so they know your wishes, and name a backup in case they are unavailable.
Does an advance directive mean doctors will give up on me?
No. An advance directive is about your choices, not about limiting care against your wishes. You can direct that everything possible be done, or set limits, or anything in between. It simply makes sure the care you receive matches what you actually want, and gives your agent the authority to insist on it.
What happens if I don't have one?
If you cannot make medical decisions and have no advance directive, Maryland law sets an order of who may decide for you, and it may not be the person you would have chosen. Your family may also disagree about what you would want, during an already painful time. An advance directive removes that uncertainty and conflict.
Can I change my advance directive later?
Yes. As long as you are able to make decisions, you can update or revoke your advance directive at any time, change your agent, or revise your wishes as your health or views change. It is worth reviewing after a major diagnosis or life change. We can help you update it whenever you need to.
Make Your Medical Wishes Clear, While It's Easy to Do.
An advance directive is one of the kindest things you can do for your family. Reach out and we will help you set out your wishes and name the right person to honor them. The consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.
Prefer to talk now? Reach us at 301-627-5844
