How to Make a Living Will
In the event that you become terminally ill or otherwise unable to make decisions regarding your health, a living will can instruct your physician and family members on how to act in your best interest.
According to the American Bar Association, "A living will applies in situations where the decision to use such treatments may prolong your life for a limited period of time and not obtaining such treatment would result in your death."
Having a living will created in advance of a life-threatening emergency can save on emotional stress among loved ones and ensure that your wishes regarding your health care are followed in the event that you are unable to communicate them.
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Instructions
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Explore your feelings regarding medical treatments that sustain your life. According to Bankrate, some of the issues that your living will should address for your physician include cardiac resuscitation, feeding tubes, do-not-resuscitate orders and ventilators.
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Create your living will. Depending on your state's laws, you can have an attorney draft your living will, you can obtain the forms through a hospital or you can print out free forms from websites, such as Do Your Proxy.
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Choose a health care proxy. According to the American Bar Association, "a 'health care proxy,' sometimes called a 'health care surrogate' or 'durable medical power of attorney,' is the appointment of a person to whom you grant authority to make medical decisions in the event you are unable to express your preferences." The health care proxy would make sure your wishes spelled out in your living will are adhered to.
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Distribute copies of your living will to your health care provider or physician. In addition, provide a copy to your health care proxy. It is also a good idea to have a copy of your living will stored away with the rest of your important documents.
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Update your living will annually and with changes, especially when you move to another state. Provide your health care proxy and physician with updated copies annually.
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Resources
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