In this recent episode of Law and Financial Order, Warner Wealth advisor Robyn Wolcott, CFP®, estate planning attorney Erin Duques continue their conversation on end-of-life planning with Dr. Joseph Sacco, Chief Medical Officer at Connecticut Hospice and Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine. Together, they bridge the gap between the legal, financial, and medical sides of end-of-life decisions.
The discussion focuses on advance healthcare planning and how to make sure your wishes are honored when you can’t speak for yourself. Dr. Sacco explains the three main types of advance directives, how they differ, and when each one matters most:
Healthcare Representative
- Easiest and most powerful document for making sure your wishes are followed if you can’t speak.
- You appoint a trusted person (often not a family member) to talk to doctors on your behalf in any situation.
- Works right away and usually takes priority over other decision-makers.
Living Will / Advance Healthcare Directive
- Describes what you’d want in specific, serious situations.
- Useful, but language can be vague and hard to apply in real life, which can lead to disagreement.
- Best used as a complement to, not a substitute for, a healthcare representative.
MOLST / MOST (Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
- A medical order used mainly by people with serious, advanced illness.
- Gives very specific instructions on treatments like CPR, ventilators, and feeding tubes, based on your current condition.
- In Connecticut, it’s currently valid only with the original bright-green form, though an electronic version is being developed.
Emergencies and Access
In a crisis, doctors always start with life-saving care first and sort our paperwork later. Most people don't have their documents on them, which is why some who didn't want life support and end up on it temporarily. A practical tip is to keep DNR/MOST forms where EMS can easily find them, such as the refrigerator. In Connecticut, an electronic system (eMOLST) is also being developed to make accessing these directions easier in an emergency.
Avoiding Family Conflict
Even the best documents fail if no one knows what you want. A healthcare representative’s ethical duty is to follow your wishes, not their own opinions. To reduce conflict, it’s important to clearly talk through your values and preferences with your representative and family ahead of time so everyone understands the plan before a crisis happens.
A little planning and honest conversation today can bring clarity, comfort, and peace of mind for you and the people you love.
If you're curious to hear more, you can listen here. Law and Financial Order - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
*Erin Duques is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial and Warner Wealth.
**Robyn Wolcott, James Warner, Warner Wealth and LPL Financial do not provide legal advice or services. This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized legal advice. Please consult your legal advisor regarding your specific situation.
***Dr. Joseph Sacco, Chief Medical Officer at Connecticut Hospice is not affiliated with or endorsed by LPL Financial or Warner Wealth.