Why We Need A Living Will?

A living will is a legal document that specifies what treatment you desire under certain circumstances. In some cases when you are admitted to the hospital, one of the staff will ask you if you have a living will, depending on what the circumstances are. A living will is not to be confused with a last will and testament and does not replace it. If you are badly injured in an accident or fall ill and are unable to make decisions for yourself, this is a good reason why we need a living will. When the will is valid, health care professionals have to carry out your wishes and instructions that are in the living will.

Many times people think why we need a living will is only beneficial when we are old and sick. This is not true, since anyone can end up in a serious accident or have an illness. Listed below are a few reasons why we need a living will.

1. If you leave instructions in your living will that you want to refuse certain treatments. It could be life support, a feeding tube, or artificial resuscitation. In your living will you can specify that certain treatments are not your wishes. When instructions are given in the living will, the health care professionals will follow your wishes.

2. A living will allows us to be in charge of the outcome when it happens. No one can predict the future, to know if an accident occurs, or a disease. Knowing the outcome of what your wishes are before it happens, allows you to be in control of what your wishes entail.

3. Another reason why we need a living will, it helps in prevention of arguments happening amongst family members. Family members will have different opinions and ideas at what treatments are good for you. Having a living will stating what your wishes are prevents any squabbling from occurring.

4. A living will makes it easy on the family when it comes to deciding on what to do. It can add pressure when the decisions are left up to the family deciding on what your wishes might have been.

5. A living will can authorize treatments that you wish to have. There are treatments that need your permission to perform, but if you are incapacitated, you cannot make these decisions. If the instructions state certain procedures to be done, you will be ensured that you will receive the treatment that is necessary.

6. A good reason why we need a living will is to protect our family members from yourself being a financial burden. Sometimes, when you have a permanent illness, you will need long time care, which can be very costly. There are options that you can choose that will be stated in your living will that will prevent putting the financial burden on your family members. It will eliminate stress and worry for your family, wondering where they can find extra financial help in paying for treatments and your care.