Don’t Let Your Family Decide Whether to Pull the Plug

Imagine this: you’re unconscious in the hospital after a freak accident involving a pizza delivery bike and your neighbor’s overly ambitious garden gnome display. The doctors are looking around, waiting for someone to make a decision about your medical care. Who steps up? Your next of kin. Cue the internal screaming.

Let’s be honest—your family might not be the best people to make life-or-death decisions on your behalf. Maybe it’s your mom who panics at the sight of a Band-Aid, or your sibling who still thinks "organic healing crystals" are the future of medicine. If that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, it’s time to think about setting up a healthcare directive.

What is a Healthcare Directive?

A healthcare directive (also known as a living will or advance directive) is a legal document that lets you decide what kind of medical care you want if you’re unable to communicate. It also lets you appoint someone—preferably not your cousin who still believes essential oils cure everything—to make decisions on your behalf.

Why You Don’t Want Your Next of Kin Making Medical Decisions

When you’re unable to make your own medical decisions, the state will automatically defer to your next of kin. This means your spouse, parents, your siblings, or possibly even your in-laws (cue shudder) could be the ones deciding your medical care. Here’s why that’s a terrifying thought:

• Your Mom: Loves you, of course. But she’s also the person who once grounded you for eating too many fruit snacks, so do you really trust her to pull the plug if things get serious? Mom might decide to keep you on life support until the cows come home because she’s not emotionally ready to let go.

• Your Dad: He’s great, but he also still thinks taking vitamins can cure the flu. He’ll probably ask for a second (or third) opinion from Dr. Google before making any real decisions.

• Your Sibling: The one who still owes you money from that "investment" in their garage band. Yeah, they’re definitely not ready to make mature, thoughtful decisions about your health. They might be more concerned about figuring out who gets your stuff.

If any of this sounds like a nightmare scenario, you’re not alone. And that’s why you need a healthcare directive.

What Happens If I Don’t Have a Healthcare Directive?

If you don’t have a healthcare directive, the state defaults to your next of kin for decision-making. Here’s what could happen:

• Family Drama: Without clear instructions from you, your family could argue over what treatments you would have wanted. Your sibling might argue for aggressive life support, while your mom insists on a more “natural” approach. Get ready for a soap-opera-worthy hospital room brawl.

• Decisions Based on Their Own Beliefs: Your dad might make decisions based on his own personal opinions—like the time he tried to cure his back pain with turmeric, much to your dismay. Let’s hope he doesn’t try the same thing with you.

• Slow Decisions: Your family might not know your wishes, which can cause delays in critical medical decisions. If you want to avoid this limbo, it’s better to outline your preferences now.

Creating a healthcare directive isn’t just about planning for the worst. It’s about taking control of your future and making sure the right person is calling the shots. Because unless you want your sibling, who still owes you $50, deciding your fate, it’s time to stop procrastinating and get your directive in place. Trust me—your future self will thank you.