Your Living Will

Most individuals give thoughtful consideration at one time or another as to whether they would want life-sustaining medical treatment continued, or artificial nutrition and hydration maintained, if they were unconscious and had no chance of recovery from an accident or illness. No question could be more personal.  The purpose of this section of the AFUMC website is simply to suggest that you make your own wishes known, in writing, before the need arises.  Don't burden your loved ones with having to make life-and-death decisions on your behalf, or by making them go through the legal requirements to carry out those decisions.  Instead, you can make your wishes known ahead of time, through a power of attorney and a living will.

 

Choosing a Decision Maker

A power of attorney for health care names a person to make health care decisions for you, in the event you are incapacitated, and specifies the circumstances under which you want life-sustaining treatment maintained, withheld, or removed. 

 

Express your Preferences

 A living will is simply a statement by you, in writing, as to your preferences on life-sustaining treatment that you give to your doctor and family members.  Living wills serve to avoid confusion and disagreement about what choices you would have wanted. 

 

Communicate your Wishes

According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, living wills and health care powers of attorney are unavailable over 70% of the time.  That means they simply can't be found at the time they are needed the most.  Make sure your immediate family, responsible friends, your attorney, and your family doctor or doctors have copies of your instructions, or know how and where to obtain your copy.

 

Revisit your Documents Periodically

Like other parts of your estate plan, including your will, your living will and power of attorney for health care should be reviewed frequently to ensure that your needs and treatment wishes are unchanged, and that the person named to make health care decisions for you is still willing and able to serve.