Living Wills: Your Right, Your Choice
An individual who is of sound mind and above 18 years of age is also entitled to plan and give directions concerning future medical care in the event of a serious infirmity or vegetative state. He or she may convey certain wishes through living wills.
A living will is a legal file that informs your immediate family and your doctors concerning your preferences about life-support measures. These specialized group of medical treatments could include artificial respirators and tube feeding all of which aim to prolong life with no definite hope of reinstating quality. The high-tech machines and gadgets may target and support specific organs in the body such as the lungs, kidneys, or the heart.
Normally, the orders stated in a living will becomes effective as soon as two qualified doctors one of whom should be the attending physician both concur in writing that the patient is either in a permanent/irreversible vegetative condition or close to death. Needless to say, it should be established that he or she is definitely incapable of expressing health care decisions.
In case you have a change of heart after completing a previous living will, you may effect the desired alterations in the legal document at any time. You may even call the whole thing off if you feel compelled to do so. Then again, you must follow certain procedures for the cancellation of a living will. State laws, with regard to living wills and advance directives, typically regulate this lawful action.
A completed and duly signed living will should be kept in a safe location where you and your immediate family can easily get hold of it. Therefore, storing this legal document in a secured deposit box is never a good idea.
You should also inform your lawyer if you have one, as well as your next of kin, about the existence and whereabouts of your living will. In addition, your attending physician and health care provider should be notified and instructed in making the document a part of your permanent hospital records.
Living Will Vs. Power of Attorney
A living will is activated only when death is imminent or when a patient falls in a persistent vegetative condition and has lost all faculties of communication. It only handles the application or removal of life-support measures.
On the other hand, a durable power of attorney works in a different way. It basically goes into effect when a patient becomes incapacitated to make autonomous health care determinations. However, he or she does not have to be in a vegetative state or in a near-death condition.
The power of attorney also allows a surrogate to speak in behalf of the patient and to make the necessary health care decisions. But unlike a living will, the determinations are not restricted to life-prolonging treatments. The type and extent of decisions a surrogate can make essentially depends on your preferences.
It is not compulsory to have both a power of attorney and a living will. However, if you do decide to have both, you should make sure that they dont clash. On top of that, you should view living wills as a right and not as a privilege given only to special people.
Comments
Menu
My Articles
Take Your Pick: Living Wills Or Living TrustsQuestions Worth Asking About Advance Directives And Living Wills
Living Wills And The Terry Schiavo Case
Ohio Living Wills And Other Advance Directives
The Basic Details About Kentucky Living Wills
Exploring The Contents Of Living Wills
Living Wills: How To Plan For The Future
The Advantages Of Living Wills And Living Trusts
Step One: Get Free Living Wills Online
Living Wills And Power Of Attorney
Living Wills For Health Care
The Ultimate Guide In Making A Louisiana Living Will
Massachusetts Living Wills 101
Advanced Directives And Living Wills In Nebraska
The Details Of California Living Will Forms
Differentiating A Living Will And A Living Trust
Living Wills And The Extent Of Your Options
Knowing The Pros And Cons Of Living Wills
Facing The Difficult Task Of Making Living Wills
Living Wills And How They Work
Living Wills: Putting Your Refusal Into Writing
The Limitations And Alternatives Of Missouri Living Wills
Living Wills: Your Right, Your Choice
Living Will Forms And How They Work
Related Sites | My Articles The Ultimate Guide In Making A Louisiana Living Will The Louisiana living will also known as the Louisiana Declaration .. Living Wills For Health Care The possibility of becoming terminally ill or debilitated is not something.. The Advantages Of Living Wills And Living Trusts Planning for the future basically involves a number of benefits. For.. Living Wills And The Terry Schiavo Case The story about Terry Schiavo and the court battles that her family.. |
|
|
Related News:
|