How an Advance Healthcare Directive Could Have Changed the Fate of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty

In the world of fairy tales, magic spells and wicked curses often lead to long, enchanted slumbers. But in the real world, when someone becomes incapacitated, things aren't quite so whimsical, and the legal and emotional consequences can be far more complicated.

Take Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, for example. Both fell into deep, coma-like sleeps, leaving loved ones unsure of what to do. If either had an advance healthcare directive in place, the story might have unfolded very differently.

An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows you to outline your healthcare preferences and appoint a trusted individual to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate. Think of it as your voice when you can’t speak for yourself.

In Snow White’s case, the dwarves were left to mourn and preserve her in a glass coffin, unsure whether to treat her, wait for a miracle, or move on. An advance directive could have clarified her wishes and saved her family and friends from heartbreak and guesswork.

As for Sleeping Beauty, imagine how much easier things would have been if her guardians had a plan in place. Instead of relying on a prince's kiss, her healthcare proxy could have coordinated with the kingdom’s best healers (or fairy godmothers) and avoided a century-long nap altogether.

While we may not face enchanted spinning wheels or poisoned apples, we all face the possibility of sudden illness or incapacitation. Having an advance healthcare directive ensures your wishes are known and that your loved ones aren’t left in the dark.

At Gianelli, Friedman, Jeffries & McKernan, we help real people - not just fairytale princesses - plan for the unexpected. Let us help you write your happily ever after, starting with a solid estate plan.