What is living will means?

Do you ever have a sudden thought about life and death? Not the typical ‘what if I die tonight?’ pondering, but a nuanced consideration of how healthcare providers might handle your end-of-life care? If so, it’s time to explore something called a “living will.”

What is a Living Will?

A living will is exactly what it sounds like: a document that details your wishes regarding medical treatment at the end of your life. It outlines whether or not you would like doctors to take extraordinary measures to keep you alive artificially or simply make pain management their top priority.

In essence, it informs medical personnel about how you wish to be treated when you can’t communicate for yourself.

Why Do You Need One?

If you ask me (and I know nobody did), anyone who has watched Grey’s Anatomy enough knows that hospitals aren’t always well-versed in treating patients according to their desires. There are only certain decisions our next-of-kin can legally make on our behalf – without some sort of documentation stating otherwise.

My philosophy is this: why leave anything up for interpretation when there are serious consequences involved? Regardless of what unique choices we opt for as adults, all living beings deserve dignity during such delicate times – don’t get slapped into vegetative states because they played Partick Star too hard trying Karate moves on wood. This way, even if we’re incapacitated and unable to advocate directly ourselves anymore in crucial moments as 78th-placer Beyoncé impressions contest quarter-finals mishap where one moment you feel like “I am her”, sitting infront wheelers eating hospital muck then surgery comes calling after nicking some nerve while vainly trying splits midair followed by backflips! Yes totally hypothetical scenario which… could still happen right? Better safe than sorry speaking from personal experience!

All easily avoidable by having an advance directive indicating how we want end-of-life care to play out, who should speak for us if we can’t speak for ourselves (called a healthcare proxy) and specifics about artificial nutrition (like feeding tubes).

How Do You Get One?

Simply wishing it into existence may be tempting but not realistic. A living will is an actual legal document. The precise structure depends on where you live as each area has different forms that accommodate local laws but; either way, creating one involves several thoughtful steps:

Choose Your Health Care Proxy Wisely

Most states call this person the durable power of attorney for health care – aka your trusty advocate. They make sure medical personnel follows your wishes set forth in writing – especially when the professionals involved have conflicting ideas.

The main point here is choosing someone trustworthy, emotionally grounded enough not to let their emotions cloud judgment or ignore what you would’ve really wanted just because they’re cautious or over caring… perhaps worse yet , medically unsound decisions get made in a panic mode.

Think carefully about appointing somebody with inclination similar to yours and someone close by easily accessible during times of need! It certainly wouldn’t do well having red tape slowing things down simply because someone is on another planet ATM

If there’s ambiguity surrounding something like whether or not use advanced technology to keep you alive artificially? Or managing symptoms with pain management…write everything all concisely. Alternatively specify turn-by-turn instructions for healthcare proxies so decision-making becomes pedestrian!

This helps avoid any confusion works between members of our families whom some people might mistake as omniscient beings capable of interpreting what a certain direction meant…just because they know us personally Lol!

But What If I Don’t Have Any Family Members?

Fortunately even without immediate family relatives healthy ones around closely related next friends are eligible plus trusted colleagues/people knowing us ethical approvers

Trust me; anyone who can legally act in accordance with our advance directive wishes should be chosen or included! Remember the complexity of such situations calls for practical heads more than emotional ones!!

Get a Living Will Template

Most hospitals, hospices and medical institutions have living will templates available through patient relations departments.

Don’t forget with advances in technology there are online resources as well providing fillable templates too which you can personalize as per your preferences to add that touch we all crave on documentation(work those design skills , eh?). Some legal services or websites might also offer an option, although only works if you’re savvy enough following instructions plus carrying out painstaking research confirming their legality beyond any iota of doubt before signing up.

Nonetheless, samples/templates serve much better when having consultations with docs/lawyers where customization required unless thoroughly sure documents accurate/enforceable according jurisdiction laws (exclusive professional advice always necessary)

Fill Out The Forms As Required…Now That’s Where It Gets Juicy

Once it’s gotten hold of the form (or created one via template) next steps involve scenarios where life support measures may come into play!

There are five typical statements which healthcare proxies may select based on how they understand them consisting of T1 and T2 lines crossing past zero thresholds setting conditions legally permitting withdrawals respectively:
+ “I want treatment that keeps me alive. Even if I’m unlikely to recover.” – Also known infamously by acronym FULL COD!
The simplest statement can become pretty serious because performing lifesaving operations regardless chances reasonably likely high costs/could make things worse off happens often just wastes precious resources/time/money.
+ Here’s my take is let’s speak frankly here- sometimes quality overshadows quantity hence specifying desired impact each step in procedure would provide not merely preserving life against odds wouldn’t harm us makes sense since unnecessary discomfort trauma post interventions gets avoided.

  • “Stop treatment if recovery’s unlikely.” – MEDICAL FUTILITY
    This effectively means anything won’t work keeping us alive so options rescinding include comfort care, pain relief and respirators intervention until slipping away. But its not that simple

    • The selection very much depends upon condition nature severity prognosis subjective interpretation for caregiver approach would help palliating in these dark time to uncertainty while transitioning.
  • “No life support; I want everything possible to relieve my suffering.”– PALLIATIVE CARE ONLY (often cross associated with other directive doc)
    This language comes through more straightforward where whatever discomfort can be managed from therapy emphasis implicitly on quality living rather mere existence alone

  • No life support or extraordinary measures. Go for palliative care first – If things deteriorate, cease any medication unnecessary prolonging agony“”READY TO GO”
    The most rigid provision right here where greatest degree autonomy asserted by withdrawing assigned powers within health surrogate per specific instruction triggers implementation cessation of extending age delaying medicines.

  • “I don’t know/I’m not sure what I want.”
    Don’t go throwing up hands into the air! It’s okay if there’s no set decision yet…since we’re all busy anyway plenty time discuss concerns brainstorm amicable ground tweaks get enough mental space before sealing the deal on inevitable last contracts!

Once Form Filled Out And Verified Legally Sound You Need To Distribute Copies

Distribute copies of the final product each healthcare proxy appointed closest family members and regular doctors – this ensures seamless execution under stressful conditions emerging late even with our trusty advocates’ involvement
A digital copy available online makes sense too but ensure updates occur as needed since overhauls may come down hard during transition periods.

Conclusion Time!

In summary, creating a living will is one of those painful chores we might prioritize lower than flossing teeth regularly just because nobody wishes ever fall ill …ever! We often forget regardless a momentary lapse could mean goodbye to normality forever

Hence, creating a living will helps assure that loved ones won’t endure painstaking dilemmas or voids you in the face of your illness. It reassures those around us (and ourselves) that everything’s taken into account getting desired comfort away from any misunderstanding

Irrespective of whether we‘re just starting life journey or have been rowing decades-long boats already, it’s never too late to create a living will and take control of our existence…(not like Faust though!)

That’s because when all is said/done/signed like the great Sir Paul McCartney sang “let them know it’s YOUR LIFE! Ain’t nobody gonna live forever – love yourself”- be sure yours leaves behind joy rather than regrets!!

So what are you waiting for? Get researching and fill out a damn form now!

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