Make A Living Will Online
A Living will is a written, legal document that spells out the types of medical treatments and life-sustaining measures you do and don't want, such as mechanical breathing (respiration and ventilation), tube feeding, resuscitation. In some states the living will may be known by a different name, such as health care declaration or health care directive.
Living wills and other advance directives aren't just for the elderly. Unexpected medical conditions and end-of-life situations can happen at any age. Even still many Americans do not have a living will or a medical power of attorney to ensure their wishes are adhered to. If you don't have a living will, get one. Then register with a Living Will Registry.
A Living Will Registry allows you to store your living will documents in a secure, online database. Only authorized health care providers may access and view your documents in the registry. Access is given 24-hours a day 365 days a week. The registry also stores your emergency contact information so that family and next of kin can be contacted. In most cases participants are contacted annually to update any advance directives.
Living Wills are needed because advances in medicine allow doctors to prolong and sustain life although the person will not recover from a persistent vegetative state. Some people would not desire to remain in that state while others would. Living wills are not legally binding in a few states, so hospitals may or may not comply with your wishes.
Since these documents are supposed to be legally binding, make sure that everything is put in writing. Every state has its own set of policies regarding this matter. The law in one state, concerning living wills, may not be consistent with that of another state.
The most obvious place to look for living will forms would be at your local hospital. The United States federal law commands all health care facilities to provide advance directives information to residents in their communities - including information regarding state-specific statutes. You may get hold of a living will form by getting in touch with the Social Service Department or Patient Representative of the hospital, your doctor, or pay an attorney to draw them up. Some opt to save attorney fees by creating their own forms. In the resource box we provide you a link to state specific do-it-yourself living will forms software.
Once you have a completed living will you should inform your lawyer - if you have one, as well as your next of kin, about the existence and whereabouts of your living will. In addition, your attending physician and health care provider should be notified and instructed in making the document a part of your permanent hospital records. On no account should living wills be stashed in a safe deposit box. Doing so will only make it harder for your loved ones to get hold of the document when the need arises.
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