The arrival of COVID-19 reinforced the need for everyone to prepare a legally-recognised advance directive document and arrange the appointment of a legal representative (eg. guardian, proxy, agent, etc.). An advance directive outlines the nature of one’s desired end of life care. A guardian can advocate on one’s behalf should we become unable to communicate this for ourselves.
A deteriorating situation with COVID-19 can quickly place you in the position of having to make a decision as to what level of medical intervention you want. Because the prospect of needing active ventilation is likely, one should document one’s wishes in advance. Because it could be that when these decisions need to be made by medical staff, you may be incapable of making your views known.
The existence of a legally-drafted advance directive and the appointment of a legally-sanctioned person to represent you, could protect you from a prolonged and undignified death in an ICU. Such a document, and such an agent, can also ensure that scarce medical resources are freed up for those who want them most (and who may be more likely to benefit from them). This makes the decision-making a little bit easier for the medical staff involved.
