What is a Living Will; Why are Medical Providers always Asking for it, and Who Needs One?
A living will is a document that states one’s desire concerning end-of-life issues, especially the application of life support in the event of terminal illness or injury.
Most people have a desire to avoid long-term life support. However, most people who are under the age of 105, and are still lovers of life must think carefully about the terms of a living will, and about distributing copies of the living will to all who ask. Most medical providers ask for a copy of the living will. They ask for the document as a protection for them in the case that you die on their watch.
Our recommendation and advice is to have a living will, ready and available, to avoid a situation of long-term life support with no hope of return to a quality of life. However, there are many health challenge situations that may occur and where you probably would want some life support, such as CPR, or another short term remedy, that may be considered “life-support” to keep you alive long enough for medical care to take effect. Have an important discussion with the individual(s) that you have appointed as your health care surrogate (patient advocate in Michigan), about your wishes, and make sure they have access to your living will.
Who Needs a Living Will
Every adult (over age 18) should have a living will, and should keep it private and accessible by the person who you have named to make health care decisions for you, in the event that you are not able to do so yourself.
Please contact us to set up an appointment to meet and discuss this very important component of an estate plan that all adults should have.
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