Making Your Wishes Known: A Living Will
A living will is a written statement that you do not want life-prolonging medical procedures when your condition is hopeless and there is no chance of regaining a meaningful life. Living wills have been around since 1976, when California passed what is called the Natural Death Act. Although called “wills,” they have nothing to do with property, but rather with one’s self, and are intended to take effect when you are still alive. An outgrowth of concern over the loss of ability to direct medical care at the end of one’s life, a living will is an advance directive and is operative only at the time you are terminally ill and are unconscious, or are otherwise incompetent to discuss and decide with your physician what treatment you wish.
Not only a tool to control the extent and type of medical care you receive at the end of your life, a living will can also help reduce the emotional stresses and strains felt by both your family and your doctor, who must decide whether to withhold, withdraw, or continue medical treatment that cannot cure or reverse your terminal condition.
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