There are many factors to consider when planning your will and trust, including your preferences for end-of-life care. Your living will is where you state your wishes for medical care, should you be unable to make decisions for yourself. By planning, you can ensure you will receive the medical care you want and relieve any family members of making difficult decisions during moments of grief. But what does a living will entail? Here are a few items typically included in the legal document. 

Items Typically Covered in a Living Will 

Life-Extending Medical Treatment

A living will often includes one's preferences about receiving blood transfusions, specific diagnostic tests, palliative drugs, and the use of a respirator. Basically, any medical care that prolongs your life can be addressed in a living will.

If you are terminally ill or are injured in a major accident, you may not be able to eat or drink on your own at the end of your life. With a living will as part of your will and trust plans, you can discuss what you want to happen should this situation ever become a reality. Do you prefer to have intravenous/tube-fed nourishment? Someone in a permanent vegetative condition could conceivably be kept alive for years via this method, so factor that possibility into your decision-making. 

DNRs

Many choose to include a do-not-resuscitate order in their living will. A DNR instructs medical personnel not to revive you in the event you need resuscitative treatment at the end of your life. For example, if one has a terminal illness and is in their final days, they may wish to die naturally and not be revived through CPR. When creating a DNR, also be sure to file a copy in your medical record so that health care providers know and understand your preferences.

Organ Donation

Many people take the opportunity to specify their wishes for organ donation in their living will. There are eight different organs generally accepted for donation: the heart, intestines, both kidneys, the liver, both lungs, the pancreas, faces, and hands. You can also choose to donate tissue, bone marrow, and stem cells. Use your living will to stipulate exactly what you'd like to give.
 

The will and trust attorneys at Sponcler & Tharpe LLC will design the documents that best safeguard you in the event of a healthcare emergency. For over 30 years, they have been representing Whitfield County, GA, clients in a number of different legal issues, including will and trust planning, civil litigation cases, and real estate law matters. Call (706) 278-5211 or visit them online to arrange a consultation.