Gary Coleman's Advanced Health Care Directive Examined

       On May 28, 2010 actor Gary Coleman passed away after being removed from life support. The controversy surrounding the actor's death was fueled by the fact that the person in charge of making the decision to remove Coleman from life support, Shannon Price was presumed by the public to be married to Coleman, but in fact they were divorced.
       On June 2, 2010, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center released a statement that "Mr. Coleman had completed an Advanced Health Care Directive that granted Shannon Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf if he was unable to do so. An Advanced Health Care Directive remains in effect regardless of a patient's marital status, unless modified by the patient."
    California Probate Code sections 4700-4701 regulates Advanced Health Care Directives. An "Advanced Health Care Directive" informs your physician, family and friends of your health care preferences, including the level of treatment you want or don't want at the end of life such as surgery, CPR, diagnostic testing and organ donation. As such, Coleman had the ability to assign the person of his chosing to act on his behalf to make healthcare decisions.

For more information about Advanced Health Care Directives in California contact anexperienced estate litigation Attorney.