A living will is one of two advance medical directives that people can add to their estate plans. They can also fill out health care proxy paperwork to appoint a trustworthy person to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated due to illness, injury or age. Such documents are particularly important for people without spouses who can oversee their medical care.
In a living will, a testator explains their preferences about medical support in case they become incapable of communicating their wishes to others in the future. A living will can guide medical professionals or a health care proxy. It can provide clear details about a person’s wishes.
What issues do people typically address in living wills?
Living wills address end-of-life care
The standard living will form used in New York specifically focuses on care during an emergency and at the end of a person’s life. The form has spaces to indicate preferences regarding life-extending care. People can indicate their preferences on cardiac resuscitation, mechanical respiration, artificial nutrition/hydration and antibiotics.
They can also clarify their preferences on pain relief. Additionally, there is space in which people can explain unique preferences that they may have due to personal medical challenges or religious beliefs. For example, some people do not agree with the practice of blood transfusions.
Proper support when completing a living will and other long-term care estate planning documents can help people take control of their circumstances. Adding a living will to an estate plan can be a smart move for anyone, but often especially for people facing medical challenges or preparing for retirement.