If you decide to create a living will, you should do it as soon as you can. That way, your doctor, and family know your wishes about end-of-life medical care in case you get a terminal condition. It is sometimes called an advance directive. Your living will is only used if you can't tell your doctor that you do not want medical care which will only make you live longer but won't heal you. For example, you might be in a coma, and there is no medical care that will wake you up, or keep you from dying. Your living will tells your doctors not to give you any medical care that only lets you live longer before you die.
Examples of medical care that might not heal you include:
- Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for cancer,
- Electroconvulsive therapy,
- Cardiac resuscitation,
- Blood transfusions,
- Artificial maintenance of metabolic rates,
- Respirators,
- Artificial kidney treatments,
- Amputation, and
- Artificial maintenance of blood pressure.
End-of-life medical care is the care a person receives when they have a terminal illness or terminal injury. Terminally ill or injured means no medical care will keep you from dying. Your doctor can give you care that would keep you comfortable, such as pain medication. Also, your doctor can't withhold food and water if that would cause your death by itself. #livingwill,
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