Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Attorney in Greenfield, Tennessee
Comprehensive Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills allow you to document your medical preferences and designate decision makers in the event you cannot communicate. Establishing these documents in Greenfield, Tennessee helps protect your wishes and reduces uncertainty for family members during stressful times. This guide explains the purpose of each document, how they work together, and the steps you can take to create enforceable directives under Tennessee law. Whether you are planning for future care or updating existing paperwork, having clear directives in place gives you more control over healthcare choices and supports smoother communication among loved ones and healthcare providers.
Creating advance directives and a living will involves thoughtful reflection on values, treatment preferences, and the people you trust to act on your behalf. These documents are part of a broader estate planning approach that addresses healthcare decision-making, end-of-life preferences, and the appointment of advocates who can speak for you when you cannot. This section outlines what to consider when choosing an agent, documenting specific treatment preferences, and coordinating directives with other legal documents. Properly prepared directives can reduce conflict, ensure clarity for medical teams, and provide peace of mind for you and for the people who will carry out your decisions.
Why Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Matter in Tennessee
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are important tools for planning medical care according to your wishes. They help avoid confusion about treatment preferences if you are unable to make decisions yourself and give your designated decision maker clear authority to communicate with healthcare providers. These documents can limit disagreements among family members and reduce delays in receiving care that aligns with your values. In Tennessee, having properly executed directives supports compliance with state requirements and increases the likelihood that hospitals and treatment teams will honor your stated preferences, providing more predictable outcomes for both you and your loved ones.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm’s Approach to Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Jay Johnson Law Firm focuses on practical, client-centered planning for advance healthcare directives and living wills tailored to Tennessee law. Our approach emphasizes clear communication, thorough document preparation, and coordination with other estate planning steps so that healthcare decisions align with your overall plan. We work with clients to identify trusted decision makers, document treatment preferences in plain language, and ensure that forms are completed and witnessed according to state rules. The firm aims to reduce future disputes and make the process as straightforward as possible for families in Greenfield and the surrounding communities.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills in Tennessee
Advance healthcare directives include several components, such as a durable power of attorney for healthcare and a living will, and they serve different but complementary purposes. A durable power of attorney names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot, while a living will states your preferences for life-sustaining treatment under specified circumstances. Understanding the legal effects of each document, how they interact, and how Tennessee law addresses their execution helps you create directives that are both meaningful and effective. Careful planning considers scenarios, treatment options, and the role of your agent so your voice is honored when it matters most.
When preparing advance directives, it is important to know how state statutes define capacity, consent, and the validity of signatures and witnesses. In Tennessee, certain formalities may be required for a document to be legally recognized, and medical facilities typically rely on clearly executed directives when making care decisions. Advance planning also includes communicating your wishes to family members and healthcare providers and ensuring that healthcare teams have access to the documents when needed. Updating directives after significant life events, such as changes in relationships, health conditions, or personal values, helps keep your plan current and effective.
What an Advance Healthcare Directive and Living Will Mean
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that records your preferences for medical treatment and appoints someone to make decisions if you become incapacitated. A living will specifically outlines your wishes regarding life-sustaining measures, such as resuscitation, ventilation, and feeding tubes, in circumstances where recovery is unlikely. Together, these documents provide instructions and a decision-making framework for healthcare providers and loved ones. Drafting clear, unambiguous language and choosing an agent who understands your values are key steps in ensuring that the documents serve their intended purpose when they are needed most.
Core Elements and the Process for Creating Directives
Creating effective advance directives and a living will involves selecting a trusted agent, deciding on specific treatment preferences, and following state requirements for signatures and witnesses. The process typically begins with a discussion about values and care goals, continues with drafting documents that reflect those goals in plain language, and concludes with proper execution and distribution of copies to healthcare providers and family members. Additional steps include coordinating directives with other estate planning documents, reviewing existing medical conditions, and scheduling periodic reviews to ensure the documents remain consistent with your current wishes and legal standards.
Key Terms and Definitions for Healthcare Directives
Understanding common terms used in advance directives and living wills helps you make informed decisions. Definitions for terms like durable power of attorney for healthcare, living will, proxy, substitute decision maker, capacity, and terminal condition clarify how the documents operate. This glossary provides plain-language explanations so you know who will act for you, what treatments can be authorized or refused, and how healthcare providers determine whether directives apply. A clear grasp of terminology improves communication with your designated agent and medical teams, leading to better alignment between your wishes and the care you receive.
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a legal form that appoints an individual to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot speak for yourself. This person, often called an agent or proxy, is authorized to consult with doctors, access medical records, and consent to or refuse treatments according to your preferences and best interests. The durable nature of this document means it remains in effect even if you lose decision-making capacity. Choosing someone who understands your values and can communicate clearly with healthcare providers is an essential part of this planning process in Tennessee.
Living Will
A living will is a written statement expressing your wishes about life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life care when you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot communicate decisions. It can outline preferences regarding resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and other interventions. A living will serves as a guide to healthcare providers and the person appointed under a durable power of attorney for healthcare, helping to ensure that medical care aligns with your values. For the document to be effective, it should be clear, properly executed, and readily accessible to those involved in your care.
Capacity and Decision-Making
Capacity refers to a person’s ability to understand the nature and consequences of healthcare decisions and to communicate a choice. Determinations of capacity are typically made by medical professionals based on the individual’s mental state and ability to process information about treatment options. If a person lacks capacity, the authority to make decisions may shift to the agent named in a durable power of attorney for healthcare or to a court-appointed guardian if no agent is available. Planning in advance helps reduce uncertainty about who should act when capacity is impaired.
Proxy and Substitute Decision-Maker
A proxy or substitute decision-maker is someone authorized to make medical choices for an individual who cannot do so themselves. This person acts under the authority granted by an advance directive, state law, or a court order. The proxy should be someone who knows the patient’s values and can balance those wishes with medical realities. Clear documentation naming a proxy and describing decision-making preferences supports timely medical care and reduces the potential for disputes among family members or healthcare teams when important choices must be made quickly.
Comparing Limited and Comprehensive Healthcare Planning Options
When planning for healthcare decisions, individuals can choose limited documents that address only a few specific scenarios or comprehensive directives that cover a wider range of circumstances. Limited forms may be quicker to complete and suitable for those with straightforward preferences, while comprehensive planning provides more detailed guidance and can be useful for families who want to avoid ambiguity. The choice depends on personal needs, health conditions, and the level of detail desired. A balanced approach often includes a durable power of attorney for healthcare coupled with a living will to address both decision-making authority and treatment preferences.
When a Focused Directive May Be Appropriate:
Suitable for Clear, Narrow Preferences
A limited approach can work well for individuals with very specific treatment preferences that they want to document quickly. For example, someone may wish to refuse a particular life-sustaining treatment under any circumstances or may only need to appoint a decision maker without addressing other scenarios. This streamlined option reduces complexity and can be appropriate when family dynamics are straightforward and the likelihood of contested interpretations is low. However, it is important to ensure that limited documents still comply with Tennessee formalities so that they will be recognized by medical providers when needed.
Appropriate for Short-Term or Narrow Planning Needs
Individuals facing short-term medical procedures or temporary treatments often use a limited directive to clarify immediate preferences without creating comprehensive, long-term plans. This can be practical for someone undergoing a scheduled surgery who wants to ensure a trusted person can communicate with the medical team. Limited documents provide clarity for a specific timeframe or condition, but they may lack guidance for future or unforeseen circumstances. Regular review and updates ensure the documents remain relevant if health conditions change or if broader planning becomes necessary for long-term care considerations.
Advantages of a Comprehensive Healthcare Planning Approach:
When Multiple Scenarios and Complex Decisions Are Anticipated
Comprehensive planning is important when you want detailed guidance covering a variety of medical scenarios, such as chronic conditions, progressive illnesses, or potential incapacitation that may affect treatment choices over time. A thorough approach allows you to spell out preferences for a range of interventions, name backup decision makers, and align healthcare directives with broader estate plans. This level of detail reduces uncertainty and supports consistent decision-making even as circumstances change. It also helps family members and medical teams understand the principles that should guide care at every stage.
When Family Dynamics or Disagreements Are a Concern
If there is potential for disagreement among family members about care choices, comprehensive documents that clearly outline your priorities and designate decision makers can prevent conflict. Detailed directives can limit ambiguity and provide a framework for resolving disputes before they arise, helping to protect your preferences and minimize stress for loved ones. Well-drafted paperwork also informs medical staff about who has authority to act and what principles should guide treatment decisions, which helps maintain continuity of care during difficult emotional moments.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Advance Directives
A comprehensive approach to advance directives offers clarity, continuity, and peace of mind by documenting a wide range of medical preferences and appointing trusted decision makers. It helps reduce disputes among family members and provides clear guidance to clinicians during emergencies or prolonged illnesses. Comprehensive planning often includes naming alternates, specifying treatment thresholds, and coordinating directives with do-not-resuscitate orders or physician orders when appropriate. The result is a cohesive plan that reflects your values and makes it easier for others to honor your wishes in a consistent way across different care settings.
Comprehensive planning also supports long-term care decision-making by addressing transitions between different levels of care, such as hospital to rehabilitation or home care. By anticipating potential needs and stating your preferences for interventions and comfort measures, a detailed plan reduces the administrative burden on family members and streamlines communication with healthcare teams. When directives are aligned with other estate planning documents, the overall approach strengthens protection for your wishes and ensures that both medical and financial decisions reflect your intentions for the future.
Greater Clarity for Medical Teams and Families
Clear, comprehensive directives make it easier for clinical staff to interpret and implement your wishes quickly. When documents specify preferences for interventions, pain management, and comfort-oriented measures, healthcare teams can act in accordance with your values without delay. This clarity also reduces the emotional burden on family members who might otherwise struggle with uncertain choices. By defining both the limits and goals of care, comprehensive planning supports consistent decision-making across providers and care settings, ensuring that treatment aligns with your priorities throughout the course of an illness.
Reduced Burden on Loved Ones During Difficult Times
A well-documented plan reduces stress for family members asked to make urgent medical decisions on your behalf. When preferences and decision-making authority are clearly laid out, loved ones can focus on providing emotional support rather than debating treatment options. This clarity lowers the risk of conflict and supports a more peaceful decision-making process. Family members benefit from knowing they are following your expressed wishes, which can ease feelings of guilt or uncertainty and promote stronger relationships during and after periods of serious illness.
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Practical Tips for Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Choose the right person to act for you
Select an individual who understands your values, can make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and is willing to communicate with healthcare providers. This person should be able to discuss sensitive topics, handle paperwork, and advocate for your preferences when necessary. Consider naming an alternate agent in case the first choice is unavailable. Discuss your wishes with your chosen agent in advance so they know how you would like decisions to be made. Open conversations reduce misunderstandings and help ensure your directives will be carried out as you intend.
Document specific preferences in plain language
Review and update documents regularly
Regularly reviewing your advance directives and living will ensures they reflect current health conditions and personal preferences. Revisit your documents after major life events such as marriage, divorce, births, or significant changes in health. Periodic updates help maintain clarity about who should make decisions for you and what treatment approaches align with your values. Confirm that contact information and names are current, and redistribute updated copies to your agent, family members, and healthcare providers to ensure everyone has the most recent version.
Reasons to Create Advance Healthcare Directives and a Living Will
People create advance directives and living wills to retain control over healthcare decisions, reduce stress for loved ones, and clarify preferences about life-sustaining treatment. These documents address what should happen if you cannot communicate, who will make decisions, and how aggressive or conservative medical care should be in different situations. Planning ahead helps ensure that care aligns with your personal values and diminishes the burden on family members who might otherwise face difficult choices during emergencies or serious illness. Well-crafted directives provide guidance and continuity during uncertain times.
Creating directives is also a practical way to make sure your medical wishes are known across care settings and by multiple providers. Advanced planning simplifies communication with hospitals, primary care physicians, and long-term care facilities and reduces the chance that conflicting opinions will derail your preferences. Having official documents in place expedites decision-making and helps medical teams respond quickly in alignment with your goals. This preparation can be especially valuable for individuals with chronic conditions, progressive illnesses, or family situations where consensus on medical choices might be difficult to achieve.
Common Situations When Advance Directives and Living Wills Are Needed
Advance directives and living wills are useful in many scenarios, such as before major surgery, when managing chronic or progressive illnesses, when planning for advanced age, or following a change in family or medical circumstances. They are also important for anyone who wants to ensure their healthcare preferences are respected if they become incapacitated. These documents can guide decisions about life support, long-term care, and palliative measures, providing clarity for medical teams and peace of mind for families during transitions between care settings or during sudden medical emergencies.
Preparing for Major Medical Procedures
Before undergoing significant surgery or medical treatment, creating an advance directive and living will can clarify your wishes for perioperative care and emergency decisions. These documents inform medical teams and your chosen decision maker about the level of intervention you want if complications arise. Establishing directives in advance allows the surgical team to document your preferences and engage your agent promptly if postoperative complications require decisions about life-sustaining measures. This planning reduces last-minute stress and helps ensure decisions follow your expressed intentions.
Managing Progressive or Chronic Illness
Individuals with progressive illnesses benefit from detailed directives that address likely stages of care and evolving treatment choices. Advance planning can include preferences about hospitalizations, use of intensive treatments, hospice care, and pain management. By documenting goals of care early, you give your agent and medical team clear direction as conditions change. This forward-looking approach minimizes crisis-driven decisions and ensures that care transitions are handled with an understanding of your long-term priorities and comfort-focused objectives when appropriate.
Planning for Aging and Potential Incapacity
As people age, the likelihood of medical conditions that impair decision-making increases, making directives particularly valuable. Documents that name a decision maker and state treatment preferences provide continuity of care and reduce the chance of disputes among family members. Planning ahead also streamlines interactions with healthcare providers and facilities during transitions from independent living to assisted care or hospice services. Clear directives support dignity and autonomy by preserving your role in shaping medical care even if you later lack the ability to communicate decisions directly.
Local Legal Assistance for Advance Healthcare Directives in Greenfield
Jay Johnson Law Firm is available to help residents of Greenfield prepare advance healthcare directives and living wills that reflect Tennessee law and personal values. The firm assists with choosing and documenting a healthcare agent, drafting clear treatment preferences, and ensuring all forms are executed properly and distributed to appropriate parties. We aim to make the process accessible and respectful, guiding clients through difficult decisions and offering practical advice on maintaining and updating directives. Our goal is to help you leave a clear plan that reduces stress for those you leave behind.
Why Clients in Greenfield Choose Our Firm for Healthcare Directives
Clients choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for assistance with advance healthcare directives because the firm provides attentive, client-focused service that prioritizes clarity and legal compliance. We take time to listen to individual goals and concerns, translate those preferences into plain-language documents, and ensure that paperwork is executed in accordance with Tennessee requirements. Our approach emphasizes practicality and communication, helping clients name appropriate decision makers and understand how directives will be used by medical teams when the need arises.
Working with our team includes a focus on coordination across medical providers and family members, making sure that directives are distributed and accessible in medical records or carried by a designated agent. We review existing estate planning instruments to ensure cohesion between healthcare directives and other documents, and we suggest sensible mechanisms for updating paperwork as circumstances change. This integrated approach helps clients achieve consistency between their medical and broader personal planning goals.
The firm also offers guidance on practical matters such as completing forms to meet witness requirements, creating electronic and physical copies for accessibility, and documenting conversations with medical providers about care goals. We provide step-by-step assistance to reduce administrative burdens on families and ensure that your healthcare documents are ready when needed. Our focus is on making advance planning straightforward, respectful of your wishes, and durable enough to serve you through changing conditions and transitions in care.
Take the Next Step to Document Your Healthcare Wishes
How We Handle Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Our process begins with a conversation to understand your values, healthcare preferences, and family dynamics. We then draft documents tailored to your needs, review them with you to ensure clarity and accuracy, and complete the formal execution with the required signatures and witnesses. After the documents are finalized, we provide guidance on distribution to your agent and healthcare providers and offer ongoing review to keep the directives current. This structured process helps clients feel confident that their wishes are clearly documented and ready to be followed when needed.
Initial Consultation and Planning
The first step is an initial consultation to discuss your healthcare values, potential scenarios, and who you trust to make decisions. This meeting covers the differences between a durable power of attorney for healthcare and a living will, options for limiting or allowing specific treatments, and any questions about Tennessee law. We aim to identify your priorities and prepare a plan that addresses immediate concerns while anticipating future needs. This foundation allows us to draft directives that accurately reflect your wishes and practical medical choices.
Discussing Preferences and Appointing an Agent
During the planning conversation, we explore your preferences for life-sustaining treatment, comfort care, and pain management, as well as circumstances under which certain interventions should be used or withheld. We also help you choose an agent who understands your values and is willing to act on your behalf. This discussion ensures that the agent is prepared to communicate with healthcare providers and family members and that any alternates are identified in case the primary agent cannot serve. Documenting these choices clearly is a top priority.
Reviewing Medical and Personal Considerations
We review any existing medical conditions, current treatments, and personal preferences that might affect the form and language of your directives. This includes discussing how certain conditions could change the applicability of a living will, how to address comfort-focused care, and what decisions may be delegated to an agent. Careful review of personal circumstances helps ensure the directives are relevant and practical. We also address questions about coordinating these documents with other estate planning instruments for a consistent overall plan.
Drafting and Execution of Documents
Once planning decisions are made, we draft the formal durable power of attorney for healthcare and living will using clear language that reflects your wishes and meets Tennessee execution requirements. We ensure the documents include necessary signatures, witness attestations, and any notarization if appropriate. After drafting, we review each provision with you to confirm understanding and make adjustments as needed. Finalizing the paperwork includes providing you with signed copies and guidance on how to share the documents with your chosen agent and medical providers.
Preparing Legally Sound Documents
Drafting focuses on plain-language provisions that are easy for medical teams and agents to interpret. We avoid legal jargon that might cause confusion and instead use straightforward statements about treatment preferences and decision-making authority. Attention to state requirements for signing and witnessing helps ensure the documents will be recognized by healthcare institutions. We also prepare summary statements and letters for agents and family members to clarify the intent behind the directives and to facilitate smooth implementation when care decisions arise.
Executing and Distributing Copies
After the documents are executed, we provide clear instructions on distributing copies to your agent, primary care provider, and any specialists involved in your care. We recommend maintaining both physical and electronic copies and consider filing a copy with your primary medical practice if they permit it. We also discuss carrying a brief directive card in your wallet that indicates where full documents can be found. These steps increase the likelihood that your wishes will be accessible and acted upon in an emergency or during transitions between care settings.
Review, Update, and Ongoing Support
Advance directives and living wills should be reviewed periodically and after major life or health changes to ensure they still reflect current preferences. We offer follow-up consultations to revise documents when needed, assist with adding alternates or clarifying specific treatments, and advise on how to revoke or replace prior directives. Providing ongoing support ensures your paperwork continues to serve your needs and remains consistent with any other planning documents. Regular reviews also help maintain clear communication with your agent and healthcare providers.
When to Revisit Your Directives
Revisit your directives after major events like marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, significant changes in health, or the death of a named agent. These events can alter who you trust to make decisions and what treatment aligns with your current goals. Periodic reviews help confirm that names, contact information, and provisions remain accurate and that all parties are informed about any changes. Staying proactive reduces confusion and ensures that your documents will be effective when they need to be used.
Assistance with Modifications and Revocations
If you need to update or revoke an existing directive, we can help prepare replacement documents and explain the proper steps to make the new directives legally effective. This may include drafting revocation language, collecting signatures, and distributing updated copies to healthcare providers and agents. Properly executed replacements prevent conflicts between older and newer documents and make it more likely that your most recent preferences are followed. We also advise on documenting communications about your wishes to support clarity for family members and clinicians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
What is the difference between a living will and a healthcare power of attorney?
A living will focuses specifically on your wishes about life-sustaining treatment and end-of-life care in circumstances such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness, providing instructions about interventions you would accept or decline. It is intended to guide medical teams and inform the agent about treatment preferences.A healthcare power of attorney appoints a person to make medical decisions for you when you cannot do so yourself and grants them authority to communicate with doctors, access records, and consent to or refuse treatments on your behalf. Both documents together provide comprehensive guidance for decision-making and treatment preferences.
How do I choose the right person to act as my healthcare agent?
Choose someone who understands your values, can remain calm under pressure, and is willing to shoulder the responsibility of communicating with medical professionals and family members. It helps if this person lives nearby or is readily reachable, but the most important factors are trustworthiness and willingness to follow your stated wishes.Consider selecting an alternate agent in case your first choice is unavailable. Discuss your preferences in depth with the chosen person so they are prepared to advocate for your decisions and can confidently convey your goals to healthcare teams.
Do advance directives need to be notarized in Tennessee?
Tennessee law has specific requirements for executing certain healthcare documents, and formalities may include witness signatures. While notarization is not always required, having documents properly witnessed and following state procedures increases the likelihood that medical providers will accept them. Confirming the required execution steps helps ensure validity in clinical settings.When in doubt, follow the recommended witnessing and signing protocols, and consider making multiple copies for distribution. We can guide you through the proper execution steps to ensure the documents meet Tennessee standards and are ready for use when needed.
Can I change or revoke my living will after it is signed?
Yes, you may change or revoke a living will and other advance directives at any time while you are competent to do so. Making a new document that explicitly revokes prior versions and informing your agent, family, and healthcare providers helps ensure the updated wishes are followed.It is important to properly execute the new documents and distribute copies to relevant parties. We can assist with preparing replacements and advising on how to notify caregivers and institutions, minimizing the potential for confusion between older and revised documents.
Will hospitals and doctors follow my advance directive?
Hospitals and doctors generally follow valid advance directives when they are presented and meet legal requirements. Facilities rely on properly executed documents and on the authority of a designated agent to guide care. Having clear, accessible forms and copies in medical records or with your provider increases the chance that your wishes will be honored.If questions arise about interpretation or applicability, medical teams may consult legal counsel or ethics committees. Preparing straightforward directives and discussing them with providers beforehand reduces the likelihood of disputes during critical moments.
Should I include instructions about organ donation in my directives?
Including organ donation intentions in your advance directives can clarify your preferences and make it easier for medical teams to act according to your wishes. Many people specify organ and tissue donation choices as part of their planning.If organ donation is important to you, document it clearly and also register with state or national donation registries where available. Share this information with your agent and family so they understand your wishes and can communicate them promptly when necessary.
What should I discuss with my agent before finalizing documents?
Discuss your overall values and specific medical preferences with your agent, including scenarios that would influence decisions about life-sustaining treatment, comfort care, and acceptable outcomes. Clear communication helps the agent understand how to prioritize your wishes when making difficult choices.Also cover practical matters like location of documents, contact information for healthcare providers, and any known medical issues that might affect decision-making. Preparing your agent reduces stress and increases confidence that your preferences will be followed.
How often should I review my advance healthcare directives?
Review your advance healthcare directives periodically and after major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the death of an agent, or significant changes in health. This helps ensure names, contacts, and preferences remain accurate and reflective of current wishes.Regular reviews also allow you to make clarifications or updates that respond to medical advancements or shifts in personal values. Keeping copies distributed to agents and providers keeps everyone informed and reduces the chance of relying on outdated documents.
What happens if I do not have an advance directive and become incapacitated?
If you lack an advance directive and become incapacitated, decision-making authority may fall to family members under state law or, if no consensus exists, to a court-appointed guardian. This can result in delays and potential disagreements about the appropriate course of treatment.Without clear guidance from you, loved ones may face difficult choices without knowing your true preferences. Creating directives in advance avoids ambiguity and makes it more likely that decisions reflect your values rather than default legal procedures or family disputes.
Can my agent refuse treatment on my behalf if family members disagree?
An agent acting under a valid healthcare power of attorney generally has authority to make treatment decisions on your behalf, and their decisions should be followed by providers if they align with documented wishes and standards of care. If family members disagree with the agent’s decision, medical teams may attempt to mediate or consult ethics resources, but the agent’s authority takes precedence when the directive is valid.Clear documentation and prior conversations with family and the agent help prevent disagreements. If disputes arise that cannot be resolved, legal or medical ethics counsel may be consulted to determine the appropriate course of action under Tennessee law.