Doctors themselves are concerned about these ethical issues
and living wills provide needed direction. Living wills can also assist the
medical profession struggling between the ability to save life, and the need to
reduce suffering.
No one really likes dealing with their own mortality, but a
living will allows control over medical treatment in near-death situations, and
it removes the stress and guilt associated with these decisions from family
members and friends.
A living will form may be provided to your physician and
other healthcare providers, allowing them to follow your wishes for medical
care. The form states whether you wish your life to be artificially prolonged
if you are a patient with a catastrophic illness or accident. The form must
comply with the laws of your state, since the laws vary by state. A form for a
living will may require two witnesses to attest to your signature and/or that
the form be notarized.
When living wills are combined with the appointment of a
healthcare agent, they are often referred to as advance directives for medical
care. If the advance healthcare directive provides for the appointment of an
agent to make care and treatment decisions, the agent should not also serve as
a witness. Many forms also allow you to appoint a successor health care proxy
in case the first health care agent is no longer able to serve. The person you
select as your agent should be someone you trust and doesn't need to be a
family member. The representative should be someone who understands and shares
your values and lives in your area.
Living wills may also be used to express your wishes for
organ donations and final arrangements.
A healthcare power of attorney or other medical directive doesn't take
effect until a medical expert determines you are permanently unconscious.
An advance directive form may be freely
revoked while you are still competent and not incapacitated. A copy of your advance medical directive form
should be provided to any healthcare agent you appoint, your doctor and other
healthcare providers, and any close friends and relatives whose cooperation may
be needed. Some provinces and states
also have a living will registry for living wills and other advance health care
directives.
Medical Treatment Options for You to Decide Upon
When you make an advance directive for healthcare or form
for living will, you will need to make medical care decisions in advance. The
following are some of the medical treatment options and healthcare decisions
you should consider if you were to become hospitalized in a persistent
vegetative state:
Other Advance Directives
Some other forms individuals may use to give advance
instructions to make healthcare decisions on their behalf and state medical
treatment preferences include:
Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNR)- this form states your
preference not to be resuscitated and instructs healthcare providers not to use
CPR if your heart stops beating.
Mental Health Care Directive - the patient may state treatment
preferences for mental healthcare, such as consent to psychoactive medication,
electroshock therapy, restraint, isolation, or medication in this advance
directive.
Conclusion
It’s not easy to talk about how you want the end of your
life to be. But it’s one of the most important conversations you can have with
your loved ones. This FREE Starter Kit will
help you get your thoughts together and then have the conversation.
http://theconversationproject.org/starter-kit/intro/
For more information
For BC Canada go to http://www.trustee.bc.ca/pdfs/STA/It%27s_Your_Choice-Personal_Planning_Tools.pdf
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