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An Introduction To The Living Will

Life is too uncertain. Nobody ever knows what is in store for tomorrow. It has become more pronounced of late and to avoid many a complication for you and for your loved ones you need to be pragmatic and careful about your planning, the planning for both your life and death. The importance of a living will or a health care proxy assumes great significance in this backdrop.

What is a living will?

A living will, is a legal document where you makes it clear about your preference of the life care supporting devices and medicines to be used or otherwise in a situation when you are no longer mentally or physically able to take a decision on such matters and may also nominate another person to take important health care decisions on behalf of the person who makes the will.

In short it is a well-documented legally binding declaration of a person’s decision of the use of life supporting Devices and medicines when they meet with terminal illness or accidents that incapacitate them to make such decisions in future. It is a direction to the health care professional about the type of the medication one wishes to have or wishes not to have in such circumstances so that the health Care professionals can take the decisions without recourse to the guardian appointed by court or by the court orders.

One may have a natural doubt with regard to the need for a living will since the decision can well be taken by one of the close relatives. However the infamous legal battle in the Terri Schiavo case is being considered as a classic example of the complications that may arise in case of a dispute among the close relatives with regard to the treatment to be given to a patient who is in a coma or suffering from a terminal illness and need to be an eye opener for us.

The contents and ways of preparation

A living will can be brief or as detailed as possible. However if you prefer to make one it is better to include all the necessary details in it so as to obviate complications and ambiguities later. It is mandatory that the will need to be dated signed and be witnessed. Wills may also be notarized. In preparing a living will the person concerned is well advised to consult the family members who are responsible for its implementation, physicians and health care providers. The document can be prepared with or without the assistance of an attorney. The formats are available with the health care providers or even from many sites. A will can also be revoked in writing or orally either by the patient or by the proxy.

A living will is a planned approach to modern day living where not only the life is uncertain but the options of treatment also undergo changes every day and one is well advised and justified in taking a decision as what need to constitute his treatment in situations of terminal illness or complete incapacity of either the body or mind to avoid unnecessary complications and troubles for the loved ones.