personal wishes statement/advanced directive/living will

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2006

No - it is your right to do so no matter what age you are.

babynurselsa, RN · Jan 23, 2006

No it would not be inreasonable at all. If you have wishes reagrding any sort of end of life issues then you can address these and these is no question about what YOU waould want.

Just remember that advance directives are not valid DURING surgery.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 23, 2006

Would you think it was wierd if someone who just (in Sept) turned 18 made a personal wishes statement/advanced directive/living will whatever you want to call it. You see I sometimes have surgery and on september 24 i turned 18. would it be thought of as wierd if I made one. please be hounest

Not in the least, megkirpas. If you have concerns and want everything lined out, you should do it.

I admire you for that kind of wisdom at a young age.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jan 23, 2006

Not in the least, megkirpas. If you have concerns and want everything lined out, you should do it.
I admire you for that kind of wisdom at a young age.

Its just that I have had a lot of time to think about it becuase I have been in and out of the hospital many times

cathiek · Jan 24, 2006

I think advanced directives are a good idea no matter what age or yourcircumstances are. Not one of us knows what the future holds. I have left very clear instructions for my family about what i would like done in a given set of circumstances when i can;t speak for myself and also what i would like for my funeral and also where i would like my ashes spread. I don't think this is morbid but from my perspective takes the onus off my family. not that i plan on dying for a considerable length of time and if family genetics are anything to go by will be around for about another 40 years at least

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jan 24, 2006

Thanks all. I just wanted to make sure no one would think anything wierd about it since this kind of thing is generally not made out untill you are older since i am only just 18

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2006

Would you think it was wierd if someone who just (in Sept) turned 18 made a personal wishes statement/advanced directive/living will whatever you want to call it. You see I sometimes have surgery and on september 24 i turned 18. would it be thought of as wierd if I made one. please be hounest

Do it and make sure it is nice and legal - witnessed and notarized. I work with a young patient population (adult bone marrow transplant) and wish that more of them were able to address their desires for what kind of treatment decisions would be made if a time ever came where they could not decide. And that includes who makes the decisions. If you are over 18 and not married, your parents will make that decision, if married, a spouse and if you have adult children and no spouse, then the adult children decide. Having it all spelled out can help eliminate a lot of hurt feelings and turmoil in an already horrible time.

I hope that you will be all right and make a complete recovery.

Blee

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2006

You know, by law we are required to ask patients that are admitted to the hospital if they have a living will/advanced directive.....even if the pt is 18.

My point is that I believe we should all have advanced directives. Unknown occurence befalls us all and we should have our wishes outlined and family aware.