Living Will

LIVING WILLS

What are advance directives and living wills?

"Living Will" is another name for "advance health care directive". An advance directive enables you to:

Name an agent to make health care decisions for you if you become incapable of making your own decisions.
Section I of the form allows you name another individual as an agent to make health care decisions for you if you can no longer make your own decisions. You may also name an alternate agent. This section of the form is called a Power of Attorney for Health Care.
Give instructions about your own health care.
Section II of the advance directive form lets you give specific instructions about health care decisions. Choices are provided for you to express your wishes regarding the provision, withholding, or withdrawal of treatment to keep you alive if you have a terminal medical condition or if you become permanently unconscious, including the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration as well as the provision of pain relief. Space is provided for you to write additional health care instructions.
Section III allows you to designate the name of your primary physician.
Express an intention to donate bodily organs and/or tissue following your death.
Section IV of the form is optional. It allows you, if you wish, to designate anatomical gifts to take effect upon your death.