The Florida Bar in conjunction with the Florida Medical Association launch an initiative to educate the public on the benefits of living wills and health care surrogates.
The Florida Bar and the Florida Medical Association have recently partnered to launch a joint initiative to educate Florida residents on the benefits of having a living will and health care surrogate. Kelly Overstreet Johnson, President-Elect of the Florida Bar and Dr. Rick Lentz, President of the Florida Medical Association, announced the campaign at a press conference in Tallahassee, Florida.
The Florida Bar is asking that its members help by providing information on living wills and health care surrogates to their clients. Florida residents should consider end of life decisions now to protect their right to choose or refuse medical treatment. In Florida, a person has a statutory right to choose or refuse medical treatment or procedures which would only prolong life when a terminal condition exists. Additionally, Florida law permits a person to plan for incapacity by designating another person to act on his or her behalf in making necessary medical decisions upon incapacity.
