A living will or advance directive is a document that tells doctors and your family what you want to happen if you cannot make decisions for yourself. This can include whether or not you want life-sustaining treatments, how much pain medication you wish to receive, the type of medical care that should be provided, etc. Advance directives are critical because they allow your wishes to be followed even when you cannot speak for yourself.
Where to Find an Advance Directive Form
You can usually find information about advance directives from your state’s Department of Health or Attorney General’s office. A popular way to create an advance directive is to use a form provided by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Some states have a pre-printed form that you must use, but many allow for customizing your document (such as California).
Some standard websites that offer advance directive forms include:
- Caringinfo.org (run by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization)
- American Bar Association’s website on Estate Planning
- The Mayo Clinic’s website on Advance Directives
What to Include in an Advance Directive Form?
There are different kinds of living wills, and each one is unique based on an individual’s needs and preferences. However, some standards elected found in the most living will document such as whether or not resuscitation should be attempted if the heart stops beating and whether or not artificial nourishment (i.e., feeding tubes) should be used. It’s also important to include who will make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated – this is usually done with what we call a health care power of attorney. Finally, it’s a good idea to include who you would like to make medical decisions for you if they are unsure what your wishes were.
What Happens If You Do Not Have an Advance Directive?
If there’s no advance directive, the state laws will determine how your medical treatment should be handled – this can vary depending on where the patient lives. In some cases, doctors may assume that their family knows best and provide whatever care they feel is appropriate, even if it goes against the patient’s previously stated. This might mean giving life-sustaining treatments or forcing unwanted procedures upon someone who never wanted them in the first place.