Whenever we hear about “Wills,” our subconscious mind directs our thoughts towards people’s intentions about their property management and distribution after passing. However, Living Will are not necessarily concerned with one’s property or assets. Living Will refer to the preferences a person has regarding the medical treatment they would like to receive if they are rendered incapable of making decisions independently.
It is a written document that can offer advance directives to guide the doctors or caregivers if or when an individual falls terminally ill. You can also name a person who can make the decisions on your behalf in your best interest. The person you nominate in the Living Will will generally be known by different names in different states such as healthcare proxy, healthcare surrogate, healthcare attorney-in-fact, patient advocate, etc.
Now you don’t need to become old before deciding to write a Living Will. You never really know how tomorrow will treat you, so it’s always better to make a living will in advance and have all your preferences written down to help doctors and caregivers respect your wishes.
Who Can You Choose as A Healthcare Agent?
It is crucial to choose a healthcare agent for emergencies and healthcare issues as the future cannot be anticipated. There might arise circumstances when someone has to make a sound judgment about your medical care. For these situations, you can nominate anyone as your patient advocate who meets the following criteria;
- The state’s criteria for a healthcare agent (this varies from state to state)
- Not be a doctor or part of your medical team
- Able and willing to discuss the medical care and end-of-life issues with you in length
- A trustworthy person who can make decisions conforming with your values and wishes
- Can advocate your wishes if any disagreement arises regarding your medical care
Possible End-OF-Life Care Decisions
Some of the possible end-of-life care decisions that you may address in your Living Will are:
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a service which restarts the heart once the heart stops beating. It should be discussed whether and when you would like to be resuscitated by CPR.
Tube Feeding
This helps supply the body with nutrients when a person cannot eat on his/her own. Decide when and for how long you prefer to be fed in this manner.
Dialysis
Dialysis is conducted to remove the waste from the body. List your intentions regarding dialysis.
Mechanical Ventilation
When a person is unable to breathe on his or her own, the mechanical ventilator helps the body breathe. Mention when and for how long you want to be placed on Mechanical Ventilation.
Organ Donation
If you have an opinion regarding donating the organs or tissues from your body, talk about it in your Living Will.
It is recommended to consult a qualified living will attorney before making one. Collaborating and communicating with a living will attorney can help you make sure that the right clauses and verbiage are used in the living will.
Conclusion
It can be baffling to draft a will, living will, power of attorney, last will and testament, trust, etc. for any layperson. However, our living will attorney for Kania Elder Law can help you take the right measures, helping you minimize the risk of having your desires ignored or unknown.
Visit our website, connect with professionals, and discuss your issues without paying a single dime for our free consultations.