Family-friendly funeral films to start holiday conversations

We lawyers are always telling our clients to talk to their families and let them know their wishes for when they've passed away. But it can be a bit tough to start that conversation about your funeral wishes without alarming or upsetting your family. I've found an article from www.aaepa.com that lists a number of funny movies that you and the family can watch, and then use to start a serious conversation. I haven't seen any of these movies myself, but some of them sound pretty funny. Click here to read the article and the movie summaries.

Case emphasizes need for end-of-life discussions

Have you ever wondered whether it's worthwhile to have a Health Care Directive (also called a health care proxy, personal directive, power of attorney for personal care) made up to express your wishes? If you've ever considered it unimportant,click here to have a look at this article from www.advocatedaily.com. Right now, the Supreme Court of Canada is deciding an essential issue for all of us. They are looking whether doctors have to listen to the person who was appointed under a health care directive when the doctors think it's time to pull the plug on a person in a vegetative state.

The case centres around Mr. Hassan Rasouli. Mr. Rasouli's doctors believe that he is in a vegetative state and will never recover higher functioning. His wife was named by Mr. Rasouli in a health care directive and opposed the doctors' suggestion that life support be discontinued. Had she given her consent, life support would have been withdrawn, allowing Mr. Rasouli to pass away naturally.

The court will decide whether in a case like this, the doctors need the consent of a substitute decision maker to give treatment that they see as ineffective or inapproprite. In case you are getting the impression that the doctors are fighting to end this man's life, please understand that the doctors need and want this clarification by our  higher court as much as Mr. Rasouli's family - and the families of anyone who is on life support - want it. Everyone needs to know where this issue stands.

Each of us should have this document prepared appointing a trusted loved one or friend, and discuss our wishes with that person.

What wishes should a Power of Attorney for Personal Care express?

In this article, Mark Handelman of Whaley Estate Litigation does a great job of talking about Powers of Attorney for Personal Care (also called Personal Directives or Health-care Directives). I recommend that you read it if you are wondering how to communicate your end-of-life decisions.

When you see an estate planning lawyer, you will of course talk about your wills and how your property is going to be distributed after your death. You should also expect to discuss your plans for mental incapacity. You should name someone to look after health care decisions and someone (perhaps the same person but it doesn't have to be) to look after financial decisions. Most lawyers who specialize in estate planning will ensure that you have this whole package in place.

Best of all, Mr. Handelman includes some sample wording, and some legal humour as well. Click here to read this very good article.