Archive for the ‘Living Wills’ Category

If you’re seriously interested in knowing about Living Wills, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about Living Wills.

The Louisiana living will ? also known as the Louisiana Declaration ? makes it possible for you to assert your wishes about medical treatment in the ill-fated event that you become irreversibly comatose or terminally sick and can no longer participate in the making of your own health care decisions.

This legal document only becomes effective once the continual application of life support measures have been proven to merely put off an imminent death.

Of course, your attending physician and another doctor must first make a fitting diagnosis about your medical condition. On top of that, they must officially state in writing that your current health status is indeed beyond any possibility of recovery.

The declaration also lets you assign another person to act as your health care advocate. He or she will make the necessary decisions with regard to treatment in case your medical condition forbids you from deciding for your own care or expressing your wishes.

In Louisiana, the State Secretary is obliged to set up a Declaration registry where citizens may enlist the original and certified true copy of their living wills. Doctors and other pertinent members of the health care facility may, but is not expected to, ask for a verification of document authenticity from the registry of Louisiana living wills.

Things You Should Do After Filling Out The Forms

1) Store the original copy of your Louisiana living will in a secure yet accessible location. Steer clear of security boxes (i.e. safe deposit box) since gaining access to the document might become a problem in the future.

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2) Make copies of the duly signed document and hand them over to your health care surrogate, immediate family members, close friends, and health care provider. More often than not, a copy of the living will is placed in the medical records so that members of the health team would know of its existence.

3) Be sure to speak with your health care surrogate, doctor(s), family and close friends about your preferences with regard to medical treatment. Talk about your health care wishes and the factors that helped shape them.

4) In case you want to change certain instructions in your living will, or perhaps you wish to add something, you have to fill out a new document for that.

5) Keep in mind that you have the right to revoke your Louisiana living will at any time.

6) Understand that the Louisiana Declaration will not take effect in emergency situations. The personnel of an ambulance are duty-bound to provide CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), unless they are furnished with a separate order that indicates otherwise. This special order ? also known as “non-hospital DNR order” ? is intended for individuals whose ill health presents a very slim likelihood of benefiting from the life-saving procedure.

In addition, the order must hold the signature of the person’s attending physician. An instruction to withhold CPR in the event of a cardiac or respiratory arrest is also contained in the order. At present, not all states have statutes that authorize “non-hospital DNR orders”.

Certain conditions, however, must be satisfied in order for a Louisiana living will to be regarded as legally binding. For instance, with regard to age, you need to be at least 18 years old to be qualified to draw up your own living will.

Aside from that, you need to be of sound mind when making this legal document.

The day will come when you can use something you read about here to have a beneficial impact. Then you’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about Living Wills.

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The policies on New Jersey living wills may bear some resemblance with that of other states in the United States. But for purposes of specificity and just to make sure that things are carried out according to state procedure, it would be best to familiarize yourself with New Jersey laws on the subject of advance directives.

The Basics

The legal term for living wills is Advanced Directive. The Health Care Act of New Jersey had codified this document almost fifteen years ago.

In the state of New Jersey, a living will is deemed as a simple document that needed to be in writing, dated and signed in the presence of two sworn witnesses whose main role is to verify the competence and coherence of the creator and to make sure that no undue influence was present at the time.

Then again, it may simply be acknowledged, signed and dated in the presence of an attorney, a Notary Public, or a person authorized to oversee oaths in New Jersey.

The living will normally takes effect when it is conveyed to the attending doctor who has ascertained the patient’s lack of capacity to decide for his or her own medical treatment.

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After the document is drawn up, a coherent patient may choose to revoke the directive either by written or verbal notification of the cancellation to the “health care surrogate”, attending physician, and other members of the health care team. Just by saying so, the patient has the right and power to change his or her mind any time and for no apparent reason.

How A Living Will Works

In agreement with the conditions of an Advanced Directive, life-support measures may be withdrawn or withheld if the patient: is permanently comatose or in a terminal state, as diagnosed by an attending physician and verified by another qualified doctor; or has a grave and irreversible disease, of which the likely associated risks of the treatment to be withdrawn/withheld may be rationally estimated to prevail over the probable benefits.

With regard to the medical intervention, a person may refuse to receive any if the treatment: is experimental and not yet proven to be effective; is likely to delay an imminent death; or is likely to be unsuccessful in extending life. In addition, the attending physician is permitted by law to give out a “Do-Not-Resuscitate” (DNR) order in conjunction with a patient’s living will.

The law also compels the doctor to make confirmatory inquiry with regard to the existence of a living will. In other words, he or she is required to initiate the query and to make a note of it in the patient’s medical records. Health care institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices are also commanded by law to adopt certain policies regarding the application of advance directives. It is also their responsibility to provide suitable informational materials about the subject.

The New Jersey law expressly declares that living wills should not be construed to impair the responsibilities of health care providers to provide for the comfort and care of the patient and to relieve pain or suffering, in line with the time-honored nursing and medical standards.

New Jersey living wills are therefore valuable tools in ensuring that a person actually gets his wishes granted ? with regard to medical treatment.

Also, such legal documents saves the immediate families and health care institution from the burden of deciding for incapacitated patients.

So now you know a little bit about Living Wills. Even if you don’t know everything, you’ve done something worthwhile: you’ve expanded your knowledge.

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So what is Living Wills really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about Living Wills–info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.

The California Probate Code Section 4701 regulates all types of advance health care directive in the state. If you have plans about making one for yourself, you may want to get to know what California living will forms are all about and what they normally contain.

Basically, a living will is a legal document that contains advance directives with regard to medical treatment. The form, once properly signed and filled out, becomes legally binding and takes effect in case of hospitalization ? particularly if the patient falls into an awful and incapacitated condition.

For its contents to be acknowledged and implemented by a health care provider, the drafting of the living will should be consistent with the rules of the state regarding such documents.

In the state of California, you ? as well as its entire populace ? have the right to give out advance directive about your own medical care. In addition, you are entitled to appoint a particular person to act as your advocate or surrogate in making treatment decisions in case you fall into a persistent coma or terminal illness.

Several other rights are indicated in the state-specific form. So before you actually draw up your living will, try to be familiar with your options first ? including the specific contents and parts of the appropriate health care directive form.

The “Part 1″ of the living will form is the Power of Attorney. It allows you to assign another person ? called a health care surrogate ? to formulate health care determinations on your behalf in the event that you become incapable of participating in the decision-making process. Then again, your surrogate may also assume the responsibility in case you demonstrate or express unwillingness to decide for your own medical treatment.

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Just to be sure, you may also appoint an alternate surrogate to take on the task of deciding on your behalf in case your original choice is not around or unwilling to perform his or her duties. Obviously, your health care surrogate must not be an employee/operator of the health care facility you are receiving care from ? except if he or she is a co-worker or a relative.

Unless your living will explicitly restricts the power of your health care surrogate, he or she may formulate all types of medical treatment decisions for you. If you wish to impose such limitations in authority, you may do so by indicating that wish in writing. Then again, if you intend to be completely dependent on that person’s ability to choose what is best for you, then placing restrictions would be pointless.

“Part 2″ of the living will form permits you to provide detailed instructions pertaining to any facet of your medical care ? with or without a health care surrogate. Options are typically supplied to you so that you can properly covey your desires concerning the withholding, withdrawal or provision of treatment to prolong your life. This also includes pain relief measures ? or the lack thereof.

Appropriate space is also made available for you in case you want to write down additional instructions that are not presented in the choices. However, if you’ve already appointed a health care surrogate and is quite confident about his or her decision-making abilities, then completing this part of the living will form would not be necessary.

The third part of the form allows you to state your intent to donate your organs and/or tissues in the event of your death. “Part 4″, on the other hand, lets you select and name the physician who will be primarily responsible for your health care and treatment.

After accomplishing the correct form, the date and your signature should be affixed at the end of the document. Aside from that, the law that regulates California living will forms essentially requires the presence of two eligible witnesses or a Notary Public during the signing. You also have the right to annul or alter the contents of the living will at any time.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing–the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

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By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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Every person has the right to self-determination especially on the subject of health care. This right encompasses the decision to refuse or accept a particular type of treatment, may it be as simple as an oral medication or as complicated as a surgical procedure.

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.

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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 don’t clash. On top of that, you should view living wills as a right and not as a privilege given only to special people.

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By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Issues that surround terminal illness, incapacitation and death are not easy to talk about. But it would be a lot easier for the immediate family if their loved one had drawn up a living will before being confronted with a traumatic accident or a serious illness.

Without it, a person’s preferences with regard to the extent of life support measures (i.e. artificial ventilation, tube feeding, medications and other high-tech machines) would not be heard and carried out. Living wills, therefore, are essential tools that are applicable for all eligible individuals.

In determining your health care wishes, you should always take your values into account. These considerations should include your thoughts about the importance of self-sufficiency and independence, and where to draw the line when the quality of life is compromised. Also, you need to decide if your advanced directives would prohibit life-sustaining and/or life-saving measures.

Before drafting your own living will, be acquainted with the different treatments that are within its scope. In this way, you will be able to specify which of these measures you wish to receive or refuse in the event of incapacitation. Also, it would be a good idea to speak with your physician about this matter and be advised on other pertinent issues and terminologies.

The Different Treatments

1) Resuscitation

This procedure aims to restart a heart that has stopped beating. Decide on when and if you wish to be resuscitated via CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or by a medical device that dispenses an electrical shock to revive the heart. The stage of a disease or the extent of injury matters in this situation.

Therefore, try to be as specific as possible. You may fill out medical forms called DNR (do-not-resuscitate) orders to signify your desire to refuse such life-saving measure. These forms are usually attached to the medical record to forewarn the health care team.

2) Mechanical Ventilation

This life-sustaining measure involves the use of a machine that takes over a person’s ventilation in the event that he or she is incapable of spontaneous breathing. Reflect about when, if and for how long you would like to be attached to a mechanical ventilator.

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You should also take your prognosis and condition into account, and whether or not it would matter to you if the doctors have high hopes about your recovery.

3) Hydration and Nutritional Assistance

These life-prolonging measures provide the body with much needed fluids and nutrients intravenously or through a nasogastric tube (NGT). Come to a decision about when, if and for how long you would like to receive sustenance in this manner.

4) Dialysis

In case of renal failure, this medical procedure gets rid of toxic wastes from your blood and controls fluid levels in your body. Decide on when, if and for how long you would like to accept this treatment.

5) End-of-life Care

Examples of treatment that fall under this category include the administration of painkillers, antibiotics, and mechanical ventilation. You should also determine whether you would like to receive these palliative measures even when death is imminent.

In general, these medical interventions can provide help in temporary situations wherein recovery is possible. However, in end-of-life stages, such measures could only add further discomfort and prolong the dying process.

A lot of conditions may fall someplace in between, where the odds of recuperation is unknown. These circumstances are often difficult to deal with. When living wills are present, however, these problematical situations are made a lot easier.

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By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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The following paragraphs summarize the work of Living Wills experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of Living Wills. Heed their advice to avoid any Living Wills surprises.

A coherent patient basically has the right to make an autonomous decision regarding health care. He or she may decide to refuse or accept any form of medical treatment in the event of an illness or trauma. However, when coherence is absent, the duty is typically passed on to the patient’s immediate family or the health care provider. This is when the concepts of living wills and power of attorney become significant.

For as long as you’re competent and rational, only you can decide what medical intervention to accept. Needless to say, you also have the right to decline treatment based on your personal beliefs and preferences. The usual scenario would include a thorough explanation from your attending physicians as regards to the advantages and disadvantages of a particular medication or procedure. Yet, regardless of your reasons, the health care provider is obligated to grant your refusal to receive medical care.

On the other hand, if you become incapacitated due to a permanent disability or a terminal illness, you may lose the right and ability to decide for your own medical treatment. In this case, the important determinations will have to be made on your behalf. And if you haven’t formulated any instructions, no one will truly know what you would have wanted to happen.

Consequently, the health care team and your immediate family will have to work with professional judgment and presumptions about your condition. So before it’s too late, learn about living wills and power of attorney and how they can make the situation a lot easier for and your family.

Living Will

A living will is a legally binding document that allows you to express your wishes in writing with regard to medical treatment. It normally contains instructions as to how you want to be taken care of in the event of a debilitating illness or a permanent vegetative condition.

More often than not, two witnesses are required to observe the signing of this legal document. A number of states even necessitate the presence of a Notary Public. Apart from that, the living will should be consistent with the laws of the state on the subject of advance directives.

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Since it is a legal document, the health care provider and your immediate family would be compelled to put your wishes into action. On top of that, a living will would certainly guarantee that your decisions about your medical treatment would be respected no matter what happens.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney used in health care enables you ? the creator ? to name an advocate in the event of your illness or incapacity. This person would serve as your proxy in the decision-making pertaining to your medical care. Of course, your advocate should have full knowledge of what you intend or desire to happen in case you become too debilitated to actually speak or decide for yourself.

Certain qualifications and conditions must be fulfilled before a person can be named as your advocate. For instance, he or she must be of legal age ? eighteen years old and above ? and must only have your best interest in mind. You may pick your spouse, son, daughter, sibling, a friend, or any trusted person to act as your health care representative.

In case you want your advocate to be able to decline any medical treatment and permit you to pass away peacefully, you must specifically say so in writing.

Although the drafting of a power of attorney is not necessarily required, you have to remember that the legal authority of your representative will only take effect after you have duly signed the said document.

So choose between living wills and power of attorney, and try to determine which of the two would work best for you.

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By Anders Eriksson, who just launched this great product..
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If you have even a passing interest in the topic of Living Wills, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of Living Wills.

A living will is a legal statement or declaration that a person can make signifying his or her desire to withhold or withdraw certain types of medical treatment under a number of circumstances. Missouri living wills also function in the same way.

Any competent resident of Missouri who is 18 years or older can draft a living will by affixing his or her signature and the exact date to the declaration. This must be done in the presence of two qualified witnesses. A witness must be at least 18 years of age and should not have nay relation to the creator of the living will. He or she should not be a beneficiary of or monetarily responsible for the health care of the creator.

The making of a living will or other forms of advance directives is highly recommended since it prepares a person for that grim possibility of incapacitation. Plus, it provides an excellent opportunity to formulate health care decisions with much thought and free of pressure.

The Limitations of Missouri Living Wills

While most folks have heard about living wills, not all are actually aware of the substantial limitations of the document as defined by the laws of Missouri. The terms “terminal condition” or “death-prolonging procedure” are utilized in the statute to indicate the circumstances to which the declaration applies.

The law defines these terms with reference to a condition wherein death is about to happen whether certain treatments are given or not. In other words, the patient is expected to pass away within a short period of time with or without resuscitation, mechanical ventilator, artificial nutrition/hydration, and/or surgical procedure.

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By definition, a living will only steers clear of treatment when the prospect of death is unquestionable and the medications or procedures are ineffective in preventing or significantly postponing death. In addition, the statute forbids a living will from withdrawing or withholding artificial nutrition or hydration ? which is nourishment supplied through an intravenous line or feeding tube.

The Alternatives to Missouri Living Wills

For people who want to express health care decisions that are beyond the bounds of Missouri statutes about living wills, there is a possible alternative. This option is also known as “advance directives.” The legal declaration contains a patient’s desire to withhold or withdraw certain medical treatments prior to suffering from a debilitating condition wherein the ability to communicate is not possible.

In the absence of an advance directive, once a person becomes debilitated, he or she could lose the right to self-determination. Missouri living wills are just a form advance directive, complete with its own benefits and limitations. Nevertheless, latest court cases have made it obvious that any competent person has the right to create other forms of advance directives that go beyond the restrictions of the living will law.

The alternative directives need to be convincing and clear, and may contain instructions with regard to the withdrawal or withholding of artificial nourishment or other life-sustaining measures that could keep the patient in a persistent vegetative state.

The contents of this written and legally binding document may be modified according to the creator’s preferences and needs. For instance, it can specify that certain measures may be done for a sensible timetable and then terminated if the expected outcome is not observed.

Know that the creation of advance directives follow certain similar policies as that of Missouri living wills. The documents also need to be signed and dated in the presence of two qualified witnesses in order to make them legal.

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A living will basically makes it possible for any person to put his or her health care decisions in writing even if the hospitalization has not occurred yet.

It essentially takes effect as soon as the creator has become too ill or incapacitated to make a rational choice about medical treatment. If you happen to live in the state of Kentucky, then you would definitely need to familiarize yourself with the laws that govern Kentucky living wills.

The Kentucky Living Will Directive Act of 1994 was ratified to make sure that the residents have the right to decide for their own health care, as well as to refuse or accept medications or medical procedures. This right to choose is applicable to treatments that attempt to prolong a person’s life such as ventilators or feeding tubes.

If you live in the state of Kentucky, a living will can basically enable you to leave behind instructions in four crucial areas. You may choose to designate a health care surrogate (patient advocate), request or refuse life-support measures, request or refuse artificial hydration or feeding, and/or convey your wishes with regard to organ or tissue donation.

Any person who is 18 years old and above is fit and qualified to draw up his or her own living will. However, the effectiveness of this legally binding document is normally put on hold during pregnancy.

You don’t necessarily need to have a lawyer to draft a living will. As a matter of fact, the Kentucky Law specifies which form you have to fill out. The only time that you would actually need an attorney is when you have to make some changes to your previous living will.

The state law also forbids family members, heirs, guardians, or health care providers from acting as witnesses to the signing of the document. In lieu of eligible observers, you may request the presence of a Notary Public.

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The Kentucky living will form is comprised of two sections. The first one is the Health Care Surrogate portion. This allows you to appoint at least one person to make the decisions on your behalf with regard to health care. Needless to say, this right will only take effect once you become incapacitated and unable to communicate your wishes regarding medical treatment and life-sustaining measures. Your advocate can be a spouse, a son or daughter, a member of your immediate family, a guardian, or a trusted friend.

When selecting a surrogate, keep in mind that the person you appoint will have the power and strength to make crucial decisions about your health care ? even if others may push for a totally different direction.

So choose the most qualified person to be your surrogate. You may also want to consider picking out a back-up person in case your first option is not available. Just be sure to notify them in advance and make certain that they understand what’s really important to you.

If you ever decide to draw up a living will, make sure that you have a serious talk about it with your family and your physician. The conversation and the support that you get are just as important as the document itself. Also, be sure to lay out your wishes in the living will as specifically as possible.

Every time you get hospitalized ? or if you ever get admitted in a nursing home, you are expected to inform your health care provider about your living will, or the lack of it.

One copy of the legal document should be placed in your medical records so that your attending physician may readily refer to it in case something really bad happens to you. This guideline does not only apply to Kentucky living wills ? other states may require it as well.

Now you can be a confident expert on Living Wills. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Living Wills.

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By Anders Eriksson, still having the Free Adsense Templates available for instant download

When most people think of Living Wills, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to Living Wills than just the basics.

Living wills notifies others about the medical treatment you wish to receive or refuse if you become terminally ill or permanently comatose and incapable of communicating your decisions. Duly ratified state laws regulate all living wills in the United States ? except New York, Michigan and Massachusetts living wills.

These statutes aim to safeguard a person’s right to say no to medical interventions. In most states, these documents are legally binding and can assure that an attending physician who implements patient’s wishes will be free from any liability.

What is a Living Will?

A living will is a written document that is legally binding and would take effect only when the creator becomes incapacitated to make autonomous and informed decisions about his or her medical care. If you decide to make one, you can specifically express your wishes with regard to what types of treatment you want to receive or decline.

A lot of people prefer to steer clear of life-sustaining interventions that only function in prolonging life without improving its quality. They can definitely make their objections clear by writing a living will. On the other hand, individuals who want to express their preference to receive all types of medical treatment ? to sustain life and consequently delay death ? may do so through this legal document.

The instructions ? or advanced directives ? contained in a living will are typically designed to take effect if you fall into any of the following circumstances:

1) terminal illness

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2) persistent vegetative state (PVS) or permanent coma

3) conscious yet with permanent brain damage and will in no way recover the capacity to make autonomous decisions and/or convey your wishes

In the creation of a living will, the common law states that for as long as the person is competent to determine for himself/herself, he or she possesses the right of self-determination. It basically means that only the person can decide what type of treatment will be done unto him or her. Integrated into the right of self-determination is the right to accept/decline medical intervention.

Courts all over the country have maintained that the advance directives or living will drawn up by an able individual should be respected even when he or she is no longer considered competent. In 1990, the Supreme Court released a definition of what a “competent person” really is. According to the statement, he or she has the autonomy to refuse treatment under the constitution’s due process clause.

Although it is common to see advanced directives that attempt to cover a wide range of situations, it is still a better idea to express your health care wishes specifically. You may even spell the words out in the document or plan a small discussion with your health care team about the matter.

The substantiation of both written and verbal proof aids in ensuring that your wishes will actually be carried out. Some examples of common interventions that you should deal with include artificial hydration and nutrition, cardiac resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, pain medications, antibiotics, etc.

Massachusetts living wills possess the same features as that of a standard living will. However, due to the lack of state laws that govern the creation of application of this legal document, certain features may be absent.

Then again, what matters the most is not the add-ons but the typical functions and benefits they offer.

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By Anders Eriksson, still letting you get Unlimited Web Hosting from ONLY $1/month

The only way to keep up with the latest about Living Wills is to constantly stay on the lookout for new information. If you read everything you find about Living Wills, it won’t take long for you to become an influential authority.

Like anything else, making a living will should always start with step one. You can’t expect to jump directly to the finish line without going through a number of necessary stages. So launch your Internet browser and look for free living wills online.

The advent of the World Wide Web had really made a lot of things more accessible. In fact, the availability of information about any topic under the sun is just so overwhelming. With regard to living wills, these forms have become easily downloadable from a variety of sources and web sites. On top of that, you may even get the living will forms for free.

Aside from getting hold of a living will form from the different hospitals in your locality, you can also visit their web site in the comfort of your own residence. You can easily get free living wills online, straight from the hospital’s web site.

Simply print the form and have a look at it before making your final living will. It usually includes detailed questions on the subject of medical directives. Remember that every person is unique and entitled to formulate his or her own preferences with regard to health care and life support.

Every state has its own set of laws on the topic of living wills. Minor differences may be present yet the general rules and practice remain unchanged. Nevertheless, it is recommended to perform a comprehensive study of the apposite state laws prior to drafting your living will. Various web sites on the Internet actually provide a lot of information and state-specific details about the subject matter.

Parts of the Living Will

Living wills are typically comprised of two distinct parts. The first part indicates when it will be effective and could specify one or more conditions that would serve as the triggering factor. Once the specified condition has been established to be in existence, the living will’s second portion will commence.

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This section points out what medical treatments are to be given or withheld. A common stipulation is that measures to assuage pain and lessen suffering should on no account be denied to the patient. If you happen to hold the same sentiment, ensure that your living will includes this provision.

Ascertaining the Patient’s Condition

The task of ascertaining the condition of the patient is placed in the hands of the doctors. The attending physicians, as well as a medical consultant, should individually examine the patient. The findings should then be documented in the medical chart prior to withholding or withdrawing various life-prolonging measures.

Procedure for Dispute

When an attending doctor’s decision to withhold or remove life support measures is called into question, he or she is compelled to continue the provision of treatment. A judicial evaluation of the disputed decision should be sought within a period of seven days; otherwise, the physician may carry on with the medical directive as stated in the patient’s living will.

Although life-prolonging measures may be withheld in the absence of a living will, drafting one will guarantee that these decisions are formulated based on the expressed desires of the patient, and not merely derived from the collective opinions of his or her immediate family.

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