Do you have a living will?

Trauma Columnist · Mar 21, 2005

Thanks for the wonderful words Barb. I am 46 and very healthy - however, who knows what time will bring to us? I too would not want to live in a nursing home being cared for by everyone.

Blackcat99 · Mar 21, 2005

You are so right dixielee. I have an "official legal living will" and let me tell you I am sleeping better at night now because of it. I am so glad to hear that you are going to get a legal living will soon. My advice to everyone is "Don't wait, don't gamble with your life. Get a legal living will while you still can. Tomorrow might be too late. Do it today and sleep better tonight. :)

dphrn · Mar 21, 2005

A living will is a must now a days. Please don't suggest that your family put "a pillow over your head or a bullet through your skull". Along with the responsibility of feeling they have to be the one to physically kill you, they will then face murder charges.

Put me out of my misery legally...using my living will. Thanks.

Ted · Mar 21, 2005

This is an important subject for all of us.

I am embarrassed to say that neither Amy (my loving wife) or I have a regular Will made out, much less a Living Will. Both Amy and I have to get on the ball with this. :imbar

Ted

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

DPHRN, I was saying those things to emphasize a point, No, I certainly would not want my family to have to face murder charges! But, I did not want there to be any doubt as to my wishes either.

CHATSDALE · Mar 21, 2005

I AM A BORN PROCRASTINATOR [sP?]

i would not want to be kept alive when there was no reatlistic chance of a recovery to enjoy life...i do not have a living will but i am going to get one..since this t shaviao thing i have thought about it a lot

i don't want to have my children to make painful decision that they might later feel quilty about...this is a decision that each of us should stand up and make for ourself

i wonder if a living will you pull off the net would be legal is you filled it out and signed it???

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Mar 21, 2005

living wills a new survey by findlaw finds that only 33% of americans have a living will. sixty-seven percent of americans lack a living will, potentially leaving them with no say over whether they wish to receive life-sustaining medical treatment in the event they should become incapacitated or terminally ill.

http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/schiavo/index.html#lvngwills

you're never too young to have a will

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=349048

what is a living will: http://www.halt.org/legal_information_clearinghouse/everyday_law/living_wills.php

talking about your choices. a living will provides specific instructions. a medical power of attorney names a person that you trust to make decisions on your behalf.

state specific living will and medical power of attorney documents available for download: http://www.partnershipforcaring.org/advance/index.html

check out aging with dignity's "five wishes"

this document goes beyond a living will and advance directives to include emotional and spiritual care too.

http://www.agingwithdignity.org/5wishes.html

aarp's end of life information: http://www.aarp.org/life/endoflife/

bill moyer's pbs "own our own terms" http://www.pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms/tools/index.html

your aging parents: what you need to know in case mom or dad has a medical emergency

http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=c48ef934-6b3a-476d-901147e125819e67

resources for end of life caregivers: http://www.richgros.com/endoflife/talkingabout.html

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

Great resources Karen, thanks!

Edited to add: I loved the link on Five Wishes. That is a living will that is easy to read and understand and gives explicit information that I might not have thought of adding. I am going to order the family pack and send one to members of my family as well.

Plagueis · Mar 21, 2005

I'll admit that I don't have a living will. I guess like many people, I don't like to think about my own death, since I'm still in my 30s. However, I realize that an accident similar to Schiavo's could happen at any time, and that I should be prepared so that my loved ones know my wishes.

Still Riding · Mar 21, 2005

I told my mother some of what I wanted, I'm only 20 and I think I told her when I was 18 shortly after my birthday.

I told her that if i couldn't live life with pazzaz and and with some personal dignity I don't want to be alive. And that if I to pass away that I will be ok with that because I have lived an amazing life so far, and yes it would be a shame to end it early but that is how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

I also told her that I don't want to be n a coffin in the ground that i would like to be burnt to a crisp. and not it one of those creepy shrines in the funeral homes. So sprinkle me somewhere good.

I don't have any dependants that are human, But i do own a horse That I have had since I was 14 and paid for all his needs since then myself, and did all the training on. I said that if i ever died that she would never be aloud to sell him or give him away. I understood that she wasn't into horses, But that she would have to find someone to exersice him (one of my friends would do it).

I don't think she was comfortable with the conversation but we had it and I think she ended up crying at the end. more should have been said, but i think for an 18yo that was a good start.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2005

I absolutely have a living will. I watched my stepmother make cruel decisions with my brain dead father in order to keep him alive long enough for a specific legal deadline entitling her to more money. It was horrible.

What is most important to me is that my husband make the decisions about my health. I don't want my idiot brother or religious fanatic extended family getting their oar in the water. If I didn't trust my husband with my life, I'd have never married him.