What Is a Living Will?

Also known as an advance directive, a living will provides information to doctors and other medical professionals about the type of care you desire. Serious illnesses and injuries may prevent you from being able to communicate, which means healthcare professionals will remain unaware of your desires when administering care.

Living wills are legally binding, which means doctors must follow the terms contained within. Even if your loved ones find fault with the care you choose, they cannot influence medical staff if a living will is in place. 

What Kind of Information Do They Contain?

Many people consult with their doctors when developing a living will. This is because these documents contain information on numerous medical treatments, including:

• Mechanical Ventilation – Some people may require a ventilator to breathe for them if they can’t on their own, and your living will can assert whether you’re OK with this treatment.

• Palliative Care – Palliative care makes a person comfortable but stops short of extending their life. For instance, providing pain medicine is a form of palliative care.

• CPR – CPR can restart a person’s heart after cardiac arrest. Some people may opt for this treatment while others may not.

• Tube Feeding – Tube feeding provides essential nutrition when a person is in a coma or otherwise incapacitated.

• Organ Donation – Living wills can also provide information on organ donation to ensure the deceased individual can help others after they’re gone.

Living wills can also be combined with medical powers of attorney, which is a legal document that provides someone with the ability to make decisions on your behalf. That way loved ones and medical staff can converse with your representative directly, who will communicate the terms of the living will.