Living Will FAQs

What is a living will?

A Living Will is a legal document that allows you to convey your wishes regarding treatment when those wishes can no longer be personally communicated due to loss of conscienceness or state of mind.

Why should I make a living will?

Often those that will need a living will the most are those that are struck by unexpected tragety. A car accident, a sporting accident, a fall, a difficult childbirth all could dramatically change your health status and your loved ones may be left unsure how to proceed. Here are a few good reasons to give those you love some guidance:

• If you are incapacitated, your loved ones will be under tremendous stress. Remove any potential guilt or confusion by letting them know what your preferences.
• While your spouse may know you better as an adult, your parents often hold just as much legal standing or more, and conflicts can arise.
• If your loved ones have different views from you about how you wish to die, be sustained, etc., it is best to make your wishes very clear.
• Should there ever be any legal action about your end of life, a living will can act as your own deposition, and can supersede conflicting actions.
• If you do not have any loved ones, or if your family is not local. You do not want to leave these important decisions to hospital administrators or doctors you may not know.
• Preparing a living will forces you to ask yourself hard questions and gives yourself the opportunity to think things through with a clear mind ahead of any medical problems.

How do I make a living will?

You can make one yourself very easily. Type out the likely questions your loved ones may face and your answers to what your choices would be were you able to make them known.

What types of issues should be covered in a aliving will?

Here are some good questions you should answer in your living will. Be sure to include qualifiers, such as if yes, then for how long.

• Do you want to receive life sustaining treatment if you are in a Terminal Condition with no hope of recovery and unable to communicate in any way?
• Do you want to receive life sustaining treatment if you are in a Permanent Unconscious Condition with no hope of recovery and unable to communicate in any way?
• If you are diagnosed to be in a terminal condition or a permanent unconscious condition with no hope of recovery, do you want to receive artificially provided food and water. (Tube Feeding)
• In the event that you are in the final stages of a terminal condition with no hope of recovery and you are pregnant, do you want to receive life sustaining treatment?
• If you are not in the final stages of a terminal condition, meaning that life sustaining measures can possibly allow a recovery, but such measures might result in the death of your unborn baby, do you want your life preserved?
• In the event that you are in a terminal or permanent unconscious condition, are in severe pain, and unable to communicate, would you like to receive any and all pain medication even if the administration of it may lead to permanent physical damage, addiction or hasten the time of your death?
• Although Euthanasia (doctor assisted dying) is not legal under the law today, in the event that it becomes legal, would you like euthanasia available as an option to carry out your wishes stated in this living will?
• Do you want to be an organ donor? If so, how would you like your organs used, i.e. transplant, research?
• Have you appointed a health care agent in a separate Durable Power of Attorney? If a health care agent was appointed in a separate Durable Power of Attorney, that person will have the authority to make your health care decisions based upon the conditions of that document.
• If your state allows, do you wish to appoint a patient advocate?
• General funeral wishes or any other action or behavior you wish.

What is a "terminal condition"?

A Terminal Condition is defined as an incurable and irreversible condition caused by injury, disease, or illness, which would cause death within a reasonable period of time. If you are diagnosed to be in a terminal condition and you are unable to communicate in any way at the time, you are choosing whether you want life-sustaining treatment that would serve only to prolong the process of your dying.

What is a "permanent unconscious condition"?

A Permanent Unconscious Condition is defined as an incurable and irreversible condition with no reasonable probability of recovery from a coma or persistent vegetative state. If you are diagnosed to be in this condition, you are choosing whether you want life-sustaining treatment that would serve only to prolong the process of your dying.

What is "artificial food and water"?

Artificially Provided Nutrition and Hydration is defined as any artificial method of providing food or water to a patient. Tube feeding and intravenous feeding are examples of artificial nutrition or hydration.

What do I need to do to make it official?

After you are sure the content is exactly as you wish, print several copies and sign and date each page of each document. You can also include on the document the date it was originally created and the date of the most recent change so your loved ones know how current the document is. You may wish to have an outside witness also sign and date, and/or have it noterized. Be sure to make your loved ones aware of its existance, put copies in easy to find places should a distressed family member come looking for it, and be sure to review and update it regularly as your opinions may change.

Who was Terri Shiavo?

Terri Schiavo (December 3, 1963–March 31, 2005), was an American woman from St. Petersburg, Florida. On February 25, 1990, Schiavo suffered severe brain damage from cerebral hypoxia caused by bulimia-induced cardiac arrest. She went into a coma for two and a half months, and was later diagnosed as being in an irreversible persistent vegetative state (PVS), a state that lasted until her death 15 years later. The legal fight surrounding Terri Schiavo right to die is excellent example of the dangers of not having a living will. Wikipedia has an excellent article about Terri Schiavo..