Living Wills

Living Wills are legal documents that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding life prolonging medical treatments. It can also be referred to as an advance directive, health care directive, or a physician's directive.

Overview

A living will is a written, legal document that spells out medical treatments you would and would not want to be used to keep you alive, as well as your preferences for other medical decisions, such as pain management or organ donation. In determining your wishes, think about your values, such as the importance to you of being independent and self-sufficient, and what you feel would make your life not worth living.

Legal Status

The legal status of living wills varies widely from country to country. In the United States, the federal government has approved the use of living wills to communicate healthcare decisions. In the United Kingdom, living wills are legally recognized, as long as they meet certain requirements. In Canada, living wills are legal documents.

Importance

Living wills are important because they inform your health care providers and your family about your desires for medical treatment in the event you are not able to speak for yourself.

See Also

• Advance healthcare directive
• Do not resuscitate
• Health care proxy
• Patient refusal of nutrition and hydration
• Mental health advance directive

References

Living Wills Resources
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