Living will
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A living will, also called will to live, advance health directive, or advance health care directive, is a specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy or advance directive. It is a legal instrument that usually is witnessed or notarized. These documents state:
- That the principal is appointing an individual to direct their health care decisions should the principal be unable to do so (e.g. called "power of attorney for health care"), or
- Specific directives as to the course of treatment that is to be taken by caregivers, or, in particular, in some cases forbidding treatment and sometimes also food and water, should the principal be unable to give informed consent ("individual health care instruction") due to incapacity.
As the name suggests, a "will to live" tends to emphasize the wish to live as long as possible rather than refusing treatment in the case of serious conditions.
In the Netherlands, patients and potential patients can specify the circumstances under which they would want euthanasia for themselves. They do this by providing a written euthanasia directive. This helps establish the previously expressed wish of the patient even if the patient is no longer able to communicate. However, it is only one of the factors that is taken into account.
In Switzerland, there are several organizations which take care of registering patient decrees, forms which are signed by the patients declaring that in case of permanent loss of judgement (e.g., inability to communicate or severe brain damage) all means of prolonging life shall be stopped. Family members and these organizations also keep proxies which entitle its holder to enforce such patient decrees. Establishing such decrees is relatively uncomplicated.
The Terri Schiavo case
During the weeks leading up to Easter of 2005, the case of Terri Schiavo generated much interest in living wills. Prior to the Schiavo case becoming highly visible, it was estimated that only 20 percent of Americans had a living will. Some feel that this will be the push Americans need to make their end-of-life wishes known.
A number of entities have reported an upswing in requests for forms or other information on living wills. The non-profit organization Aging with Dignity has said that they have received thousands of calls and e-mails concerning living wills. The Westfield, New Jersey-based U.S. Living Will Directory national registry reported the number of hits on their website went from about 500 to 600 per day to well over 5,000. Others, such as lawyers, hospitals, and state bar associations, have also seen an increased interest in living wills.
Many have highlighted Schiavo's case to make the point that people should make living wills regardless of age or current health status, pointing to the fact that even younger people can face terminal illness or have an accident. For example, Schiavo suffered her brain injury when she was only in her mid-20s. They also feel that expressing one's wishes verbally is not enough, and that those wishes should be formally documented. Legal experts say that the entire court battle could have been avoided if Schiavo had properly documented her wishes prior to her collapse. However many other experts have found that the strength of living wills has been overstated:
- By Attorney Matt Conigliaro (http://abstractappeal.com/archives/2005_04_01_abstractappeal_archive.html#111239565871488570) of Abstract Appeal (http://abstractappeal.com) fame.
- Examples of recent failures of Living Wills, as complied by one researcher:[1] (http://hometown.aol.com/gww1210/myhomepage/LivingWillsAndPVS.html) or [2] (http://www.geocities.com/gordon_watts32313/LivingWillsAndPVS.html)
- The Florida Law 765.304, governing Living Wills as applied to the Schiavo case: [3] (http://flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=Ch0765/SEC304.HTM&Title=-), found on Official Florida Law Website (http://flsenate.gov/Statutes)
See also
- Uniform Rights of the Terminally Ill Act
- Do Not Resuscitate
- Patient refusal of nutrition and hydration
- Estate planning
External links
- Advance Health Care Directives: End-of-Life Choices—Make Your Wishes Known! (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/advance_directive_end_of_life_care.htm)
- End of Life Choices (http://endoflifechoices.org/)
- Legaldocs Living Wills - State Specific (https://www.legaldocs.com/htmdocs/livin_st.htm) - free downloads
- Five Wishes (http://www.agingwithdignity.org/) from Aging with Dignity - includes Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, and other last wishes for a nominal charge
- U.S. Living Will & Advance Directive Registry (http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com/)
- Advance Health Directive in Queensland (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/guardian/poa/ahdfact.htm)de:Patientenverfügung