When Wishes Become Disputes: Navigating Family Conflicts Over Living Will Decisions
Imagine this scenario: Your father spent months carefully crafting his Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD), ensuring every medical preference was documented. He discussed his wishes with the family, signed the papers with witnesses, and felt confident his healthcare decisions were secure. Now, three years later, he’s unable to communicate due to a stroke. Despite his clear directives, your siblings are locked in a heated dispute about his care. One brother insists dad would want aggressive treatment. Your sister argues the Advance Health Care Directive clearly states otherwise. Meanwhile, precious time passes as the family fragments over advance healthcare directives that were meant to provide clarity, not chaos. This situation unfolds in countless families across California every year. Research shows that only about 20% of patients lacking decision-making capacity have advance healthcare directives, leaving room for family involvement and potential conflict. Even when these do...