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Living Wills allow you to state whether you want your life
prolonged if you will soon die from a terminal illness or if you're
permanently unconscious. In general, a Living Will indicates whether
you want certain treatments withheld or withdrawn if they are only
prolonging the dying process or if there is no hope of recovery.
Living Wills, as a general rule, only go into effect if you're no
longer able to make your own health care decisions. For example, if
you suffer serious brain damage in a car accident or suffer an
incapacitating stroke, you may be permanently unconscious and unable
to communicate with your doctor. Living Wills in this case, lets
your physician know your wishes concerning certain medical
procedures.
Advance Directives
What if an illness or an accident leaves you in a coma? Would you
want to have your life prolonged by any means necessary, or would
you want to have some treatments withheld to allow a natural death?
What if you are dying from a painful terminal illness? Would you
want to receive medical procedures to prolong your life?
An advance directive allows you to give instructions to your health
care providers and your family on these topics. You can give them
instructions about the types of treatments you want or don't want to
receive if you become incapacitated. Usually, directives will only
go into effect in the event that you can't make and communicate your
own health care decisions. Up until then, you can continue to give
directions to your health care provider even though you have an
advance directive.
Hospitals and other health care providers are required under the
federal Patient Self Determination Act to give patients information
about their rights to make their own health care decisions. That
includes the right to accept or refuse medical treatment. If you
have executed a Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, or
Advance Health Care Directive,
your health care provider may ask you
for a copy.
Advance Directive Types
The term advance directive can describe a variety of documents.
Living Will and Health Care Power of Attorney documents are types of
advance directives. Some states also have a document specifically
called an Advance Health Care Directive. So, the term advance
directive may be used to refer to any of these specific documents or
all of them in general.
States differ widely on what types of advance directives they
officially recognize. Some states also require that you use a
specific form for the format and content of your advance directive.
If you have specific questions, contact an attorney who is familiar
with your state statutes regarding advance directives.
Author’s note:
The intent of this information provided by
termlifeamerica.com
is to inform and motivate the general public into action. One should
consider only a qualified practicing legal individual or entity, in
the state in which you reside, when making decisions on Living
Wills.
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Lewis Fink is licensed as an insurance agent offering Life
Insurance in the following states:
Alabama - AL,
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California - CA,
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Delaware - DE, District of Columbia - DC,
Florida - FL,
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Kansas - KS,
Kentucky - KY,
Louisiana - LA,
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Wisconsin - WI.
Not all insurance products from all insurance companies are available in
all states.
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