What to include in a living will is a challenge to so many people in estate planning Are you familiar with the term “living will?” What does the surrogate court provide as a directive for a living will? Who will decide on the extent of your treatment in case you experience a chronic illness? How do you go about the living will in estate planning? Do you need Medicaid Attorney? This is the right place for you.
All You Need to Know About What Directives to Include in Your Living Will;
A Living Will is a legal document that tells your family and medical professionals, which medical treatment you want to receive and under what conditions. The surrogate court rules grant you the rights as a patient. These rights are;
- Right to make medical decisions regarding your health.
- Appoint an agent to act on your behalf when incapacitated
- Determine or refuse your medical treatment.
When coming up with a living will, consider your worth and view yourself as a self-spoken person. Identify circumstances under which you will consider your life as not having worth. A living will serve great importance in ensuring your wishes on how you want to be treated are fulfilled. There are generally two broad categories of directives to include in your living will, these are;
- Advanced Directives and the,
- POLST. (Physician order for life-sustaining treatment)
Directives to Include in Your New York Living Will:
A health care power of attorney/ health care proxy.
In this directive, you appoint a person who will make decisions on your behalf when you are not in a position to make them. It is unlikely to picture all the situations and plan for them. Therefore, having a person who makes a judgment about your possible care desires is very crucial. The person given the health care power of attorney should satisfy the following;
- Trustworthiness of defending you if there is a misunderstanding concerning your care.
- Trustworthiness of upholding your wishes.
- Have the ability and willingness to talk out the stuff of end-of-life with you.
- Must not be your doctor or your medical attention crew.
2. Do not resuscitate and do not intubate orders.
Resuscitation means the doctor attempting to restart your heart and breathing using techniques such as CPR and ACD
Tell your doctor about your preferences regarding DNI and DNR and they will keep these orders in your medical file.
3. Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)
This is a document that has a record of the agreement between you and your doctor or a health care attorney. It is generally for people with serious illness or those in end-of-life. It’s effective upon signing. It is like an instruction to your doctor. Matters that are covered in a POLST are among:
- Mechanical ventilation
- Resuscitation
- Tube feeding
- Management of pain
- Requests to seize being hospitalized
- Requests to not be moved into an ICU
- Antibiotics usage
4. tissue and organ donation.
This is a post-death directive that effectuates how you wished to assist other people by donating your said organs after you die.
5. Living will.
A written document that specifies the kind of treatment you wish to receive and not to receive and their extent.
Coming Up With An Advanced Directive On your Living Will;
An advanced living will directive must be written. How you will fill the form depends on where you are from. Different states have different formats and hence different requirements.
Revisit the directives with your doctor together with your health care manager to be certain you have completed out forms properly. When the document is complete, you are required to perform the following;
· Make different copies of the forms
· Store the original in a reachable and safe place.
· Retain copies with your health care managers, attorney, doctors, and any others involved. Store a record of those having your advance directives
· Have a portable card that shows you have an advanced directive. Carry a copy of the form when traveling.
How to Cancel Your Advance Directives in A Living Will;
You can change your advance directives at any moment. This is how you can change or cancel;
· Making your health care proxy know either in writing or orally.
· Canceling an appointment with a health care proxy and appointing a new one.
· Divorce cancels a health care proxy in case he or she was your spouse
· You can call off your living will at any moment. This can be through doing away with the documents without consent from anyone.
FAQs: Living Will;
1. Between a living will and a health care proxy, which one should I consider first?
The choice between these two will depend on your situation currently and your wishes. You may need to schedule an interview with an estate attorney to advise you.
2. how quickly can I get my health care agent when I sign a health care proxy?
It sometimes takes a significant amount of time because of the verification of your health care proxy.
3. what should I include as a directive in my living will?
This will depend on your wishes and the extent to which you desire to be taken care of.
4. Where can I get the form of a living will?
This form can be obtained from the New York state department of health website.
5. What is the difference between a will and a living will?
A will shall be effective only upon your death while a living will also affect you while you are alive.
6. Is a living will only for the aged people?
No, a living will is for anyone regardless of age. It only depends on your situation and your wishes.