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Understanding A Living Will And Other Legal Medical Documents

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It's essential that anyone considering drafting a living will understand the document and its intent before going forward. A living will places a lot of authority to make decisions for you on a third party. 

What Is a Living Will?

A living will should spell out your medical wishes and what measures you want to be used or not used to save your life. Take your time, and be sure you know what you are signing before you move forward with a living will. A living will may block treatments like CPR, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, tube feeding, and anything else you can imagine.

If you are in an accident and have a living will, there might be something that could save your life but is blocked by the document. People take these documents very seriously, and they will not treat you using a method specified on the living will.

DNR or Do Not Resuscitate Orders

This document is a little different, but the premise behind the article is not to try and revive a person who is unconscious and unable to tell you their wishes. The document is very serious and will, in most cases, stop doctors and medical personnel from acting on your behalf to revive you. Most of the time, a person making a DNR request is not healthy and may have a chronic disease or have cancer. They are not looking forward to death, but they no longer have the energy to fight it if it comes down to that. 

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney is a document that allows a third party to make decisions for you based on your inability to do so. The document is drawn up and should only be executed if you become incapacitated in some way or are unable to make a decision for yourself and in your own best interest. The person named as your proxy can use that power of attorney to make decisions about where you live and what medical treatment you receive, and if you have money saved, it allows the proxy access to your accounts.

Keep These Documents Safe

It is crucial that you keep the original copies of all of these document to refer to. It is best to keep them in a safe and out of reach of people that could misuse them. Make sure your executor is aware of all of these documents and lets the right people know that they are in place before any steps are taken medically. Talk to a lawyer, like those at Wright Law Offices, PLLC, to learn more.


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