A living will is a document in which the signer desires not to be kept alive by medical life support systems in the event of a terminal illness. Durable power of attorney is a person you have asked to make your medical decisions if you suddenly become incapacitated. Together these two items combine into something called advanced health medical directives.
A living will, also known as an Advance Directive, is a legal document that states a person’s decisions or choices regarding extended or long term medical treatment at the time when he or she is no longer able to do so. There are two kinds of living will- the general and statutory living wills. A general living will states what you wish, without conforming to any standard. On the other hand, a statutory living will is a legal form living will that conforms to the requirements of the state law of living wills.
A Living Will outlines to a healthcare professional which services you do and do not desire. You can state that you do not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or a respirator, but you do want feeding tubes to provide you with necessary nutrition and you want to die at home.
Living wills are often written in vague terms because you are trying to cover a variety of circumstances which are unknown to you when the Will is drafted. You may choose to sign a more restrictive Living Will, known as Do Not Resuscitate which prohibits the use of cardiopulmonary techniques to keep you alive during cardiac arrest. Differentiating a living will and a living trust.
There are some people that believe this type of will is used only to direct health care providers to withhold necessary medical treatment. While many do use one for this type of instruction, it is also a way for a person to ask for all available medical techniques and treatments should they want them. These wills are complicated because they deal with medical issues so it is always a good idea to consult with your doctor so he can clarify any treatments or techniques you are unsure of.
Although you may be uncomfortable discussing to your doctor about drafting a Living Will, your healthcare provider has access to free living will forms which are state specific. The Internet can also be used as a source for finding free living will forms, although it is wise to check with an attorney when using these forms or if you move to a different state to ensure your Living Will is in accordance with state laws. Get free living wills online.
You are never too young to draft a Living Will, and you may want to consider writing one “just in case”. The future can be unpredictable and it is better to be prepared than suffer an accident and leave others to decide your fate, especially if your religious beliefs conflict with artificial medical treatments such as feeding tubes.