An estate plan can help assure that a person's assets are preserved and distributed appropriately after their death. Researchers have also discovered that careful documentation of a patient's end-of-life wishes, such as executing a health care power of attorney, can help avoid unwanted hospitalizations and health care intervention.
Ohio State University researchers reviewed health records of 1,185 cancer patients who were referred to hospice. They discovered that a verified do-not-resuscitate order before the last 30 days of their life lowered the odds of hospitalization. Placement of a power of attorney or other valid legal directive in the electronic health record also lowered the chances of admission. These were even more effective if the document was placed in the record at least six months before death.
