Q. My sister recently discussed the topic of power of attorney with her family at a family meeting. She is planning to use an online service (which I know is a bad idea from one of your recent articles on this subject) and is considering doing a springing power of attorney, where the power would […]
Is it a Violation of HIPAA to Ask Someone if they’ve Been Vaccinated?
Josie shared on social media that she and her teenage son and daughter just got vaccinated against COVID-19. In a conversation at the school, Mary shared that she saw Josie’s post and that the three of them got their first dose. Was Mary violating Josie’s Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rights by sharing […]
95-year-old Becomes Oldest Organ Donor in US History
Cecil Lockhart was a 95-year-old veteran from West Virginia. He worked in the West Virginia coal mines for more than 50 years, and also served as a corporal in the United States Army during World War II. He was married to his wife, Helen, for 75 years and had a daughter, two sons, three grandchildren, […]
What Should I keep in Mind When it Comes to Incapacity Planning?
Dear Hayek, I am planning on doing my incapacity planning soon. I always like to plan ahead for everything. What are the varied medical issues and methods of intervention that a person should keep in mind in order to be thoughtful and thorough when doing incapacity planning? Thanks for your help! Planna Head — Dear […]
If You Needed a Ventilator, Would You Really Want One?
Q. My niece, Rebecca, was hospitalized with coronavirus last month and was placed on a ventilator. When her temperature was quite high and her oxygen levels were low and she needed life-saving measures, she didn’t have an advance medical directive in place to indicate her preferences, so they just went ahead and hooked her up […]
How Docubank is Protecting Our Clients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Magic, I read Mr. Farr’s recent article about the importance of estate planning and incapacity planning during the Coronavirus pandemic. I’m convinced that it’s certainly wise to do my planning now. One thing I’m concerned about, however, is how the hospital and my loved ones would access my documents should the need arise. Do […]
Why Estate Planning is Even More Important During a Pandemic (Part 1 of a 3-part Series)
As Millie sits in her kitchen homeschooling her children, she realizes that she really doesn’t remember much of the math she learned in 5th grade. During a break, she turns on the television and a news brief flashes on the screen with Governor Northam informing Virginia residents that schools will be closed for the remainder […]
Getting Loved Ones the End-of-life Care They Deserve
Q. My mother is in her 80’s and has been in the hospital several times this year with pneumonia and urinary tract infections and has been suffering with Parkinson’s for decades. There have been times when I’ve visited her and a doctor hadn’t been in in a couple of days, other times when she is […]
Plan Ahead to Live Longer
Dear Hayek, I read somewhere that if you plan ahead for the end of life that you will live longer. Is this true? Thanks! Liv Lawnger — Dear Liv, According to a recent study, what you say is true, but the study only applies to terminally ill patients. Still, as I will explain, planning in […]
Be Careful Who You Choose as Your Trustee
Q. One of my top priorities for 2020 is to get my estate planning documents in order. Before doing so, I plan to discuss my wishes with family members over Christmas, although as a single woman without children, I don’t have too many of them. I know that when I begin my planning, I need […]
How to Broach the Topic of Estate Planning During the Holidays
Dear Rune, We are hosting Christmas dinner this year and the entire family will be there. While we are all in one place, I was thinking it would be a good time to talk about estate planning and incapacity planning. What is the best way to broach the topic without causing family strife? Thanks! Taka […]
Stanford Scientists Can Predict When A Loved One Will Die
Richard has had Parkinson’s for more than two decades. He has been hospitalized several times this past year, and each time, his ability to swallow and other motor skills have regressed and have needed to be relearned through therapy. Since there is no cure for Parkinson’s and since Richard has had it for so long, […]
Living Together Without Tying-the-Knot? Why Estate Planning is Imperative!
Marjorie (66), a widow, and Stan (67), a divorcee, have lived together for six years. A decade before, Marjorie watched her husband suffer from Frontotemporal Dementia, which caused him to be violent towards her, until he entered a nursing home and died three years later. Stan also had a difficult marriage and an even tougher […]
Man in Vegetative State Kept on Life Support for a Year to Boost Hospital’s Transplant Survival Rates
Q. I just read a very disturbing article about Darryl Young, a 61 year old Navy veteran who was kept on life support for a year while in a vegetative state. Members of the medical staff didn’t offer options such as hospice care to his family because they wanted to make sure Young lived at […]
The Dangers of Joint Bank Accounts
Emily, 67, is seriously thinking about adding her adult daughter, Katie, as joint owner of her bank account. She is considering this because she wants to ensure that Katie would have easy access to her money in case of an emergency. Adding a family member to a bank account seems like it might not be […]
When Safe Deposit Boxes Aren’t Even Safe
Q. I read an interesting article about safe deposit boxes in the New York Times recently. It is focused on a man who had a valuable watch collection stored in a safe deposit box managed by Wells Fargo, possibly worth millions, who was hoping to auction it off to fund his retirement. Wells Fargo evicted […]
What if the Bank Refuses to Accept a Power of Attorney?
Dear Bebe, My friend’s brother had a stroke and is now incapacitated. As his agent under his Power of Attorney, my friend needs to take over his finances. She recently went to his bank and was told that the bank will not accept his Power of Attorney because it was set up 14 years ago […]
An Advance Directive Specifically for Dementia
Dear Angel, I recently read about Advance Directives that deal only with dementia. What is included in them and is it a good idea to create them in addition to other incapacity planning documents? Thanks! Dee Rectiffs — Dear Dee, An Advance Medical Directive is a legal document that outlines your specific wishes regarding medical […]
A New Miracle Machine Can Keep You Alive Even When Your Heart Stops
Q. My husband, Phil, and I have been married for thirty years. We were faced with a heart-wrenching situation recently, when Phil’s father had a heart attack and was on life support in the hospital. He didn’t have an Advance Medical Directive in place, and Phil’s mother was faced with a difficult decision about what […]
What to Do When a Loved One is Terminally Ill
When Leanne’s father was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), his family knew the prognosis was not good. The average survival time for FTD is typically 3-5 years, and Leanne’s father has already had the disease for two years. Leanne and her brother really want to spend quality time with their father, but they’ve come to […]