What is a Living Will?
A living will provides instructions in case someone becomes incapacitated and is unable to direct their own health care decisions. Living wills do not dispose of property nor are they subject to probate – they are a separate entity that spells out a person’s wishes for their care in the event that they cannot express their decisions.
A Living Will is a written statement that expresses your wishes about medical treatment that would delay death from a terminal condition. It also applies to situations of persistent vegetative state or irreversible coma. A Living Will would speak for you in the event that you were unable to communicate. It gives direction and guidance to others, but is not as broadly applicable as a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney. For example, a Living Will does not permit health care providers to stop tube feeding – only an agent appointed by a Durable Health Care Power of Attorney or a court-appointed guardian may make such a decision.
A “living will” (also called an advance directive) is a set of instructions issued in advance to the medical practitioners who may be involved in looking after you in the future. People making a Living Will state that they do not wish their lives to be artificially prolonged when suffering from a terminal illness or other degenerative conditions. The London Will Company can draw up these instructions for you if required.
