Understanding Living Wills
New means of treating medical conditions are invented each day. As science's ability to prolong life improves, you may disagree with certain forms of treatment. In the United States, you have the right to dictate what treatments you will and will not accept for the sake of living longer. A living will states your objections in the event you are incapacitated or otherwise unable to communicate with your physician.
Writing Your Living Will
Start Early
In order to draft a living will, you must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind. There are no laws stating that you must already be diagnosed with an illness or have sustained an injury in order to create a living will.
Consider drafting your living will early. Accidents can happen at any time, and a living will ensures that any unforeseen medical situation will be handled as you would have wanted.
Reflect
You probably don't think about medical extremes everyday. When you do, you likely feel the same fear and uncertainty that most people do. But as you craft your living will, make sure you're in the right frame of mind and are able to consider all possibilities. Reflect on different situations and record your thoughts. Some conditions that you may want to consider include:
A Terminal Illness. If no hope for recovery exists, to what extreme would you be willing to endure treatment for your condition? What if the treatment is very painful, or has debilitating side effects?
A Persistent Vegetative State. If you are rendered unconscious, indefinitely or permanently, how long would you accept life support?
A Recovery with Permanent Disability. If your treatment could possibly extend your life, but could not return your original quality of life, would you consent? Consider your preference for experiencing these specific circumstances:
- The Inability to Talk
- The Loss of One or More Senses
- Any Recurring Symptoms, Such as Seizures
- A Dependency on Others for Basic Needs
- A Dependency on Artificial Organs or Limbs
- A Permanently Impaired Ability for Cognitive Thinking
Start the Dialogue
Communicate with your family and your doctor and let them know your plan to develop a living will. Share your details with them, and discuss the possible circumstances that would make for a complicated medical decision. Listen to any comments or suggestions they may make. A different opinion can help you to come to a more balanced conclusion.
Consider Your Family
Ultimately, a living will is about you and your desires for medical care. However, you may want to consider your family in these circumstances. Should you be diagnosed with a terminal illness or require a great deal of intense medical care, how will your situation affect them emotionally? Financially? If there is no hope for recovery or if you are incapacitated and require advanced, expensive long-term care, the emotional and financial stress on your family will be high.
