Health Care Decisions

The traditional way to communicate one’s wishes is through an advance directive, and a growing number of Americans have these documents.  But while advance directives are a good start, by themselves they may not guarantee that your wishes will be...

Five states have enacted laws giving terminally ill patients access to experimental drugs, and 25 other states are considering similar legislation. But it's unclear whether these so-called "right-to-try" laws will help anyone other than state legislators embracing a politically popular cause. ...

The popular New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast has created a graphic memoir of coping with her parents' final years, titled "Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?" ...

In a case being closely watched by baby boomers throughout the country caring for aging parents, a Pennsylvania nurse has been charged with helping her 93-year-old father commit suicide.

Any complete estate plan should include a medical directive, which can encompass a number of different documents. ...

Elderlaw 101

Most people prefer to be cared for in their home rather than a nursing home, but finding a home care provider for you or a loved one can be daunting.

The refusal of a retirement home employee to administer CPR to a dying resident has gained international attention and sparked debate about both the legal responsibilities of independent living facilities and the efficacy of CPR itself.  ...

End-of-life care decisions are never easy, but many Medicare recipients are being forced to choose between nursing home or hospice care, although neither by themselves may be ideal for a patient nearing the end of life.

Every adult is assumed to be capable of making their own decisions unless a court determines otherwise. If an adult becomes incapable of making responsible decisions, the court will appoint a substitute.

Elderlaw 101