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Hi
I am wondering if you all have living wills (advanced directives)? These are specific and enforceable instructions on what to do if you get seriously ill and are unable to tell family or doctors what you want them to do about your situation.
For example, you may not wish to be placed on life support, or have a feeding tube inserted. You may not want to be resucitated if you stop breathing. Or you may be the opposite - and want everything possible done to prolong life.
I don't have one and need to do it. Now.
They are pretty simple and inexpensive and worth the time it takes. If something happened to me, I'd hate to think of fighting or misunderstandings between people I love based on what they think I'd want.
If I have it all written down and it's legal, then that won't happen.
You will have to chose someone you trust to enforce your wishes and to speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself.
I told myself a hundred times after the sad Terri Schiavo case that I should do it and here I am still thinking about it instead of doing it.
Anyway, I feel irresponsible for not doing this sooner and will get this done by month's end.
I am wondering if most people have a living will? Do you??
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Add a Comment5 Comments
My brother's girlfriend does these. She does all of the legal documents for her company & she did ours. It isn't easy & it's stressful to think about issues you don't ever want to think about, but it is important to have it done. I also have a living trust. You should also get done, too.
May 3, 2008 - 2:51pmThis Comment
This post really struck a cord in me that I have been meaning to do for 2 years now. I really need to get this done. I fell a little better in seeing that there are many of us out there that also have been meaning to do this.
May 3, 2008 - 2:24pmThis Comment
When I had to go to the hospital to check in for an outpatient procedure, one of the umpteen questions I had to answer was whether I had a living will. Sadly, no; but, my financial advisors keep reminding me that my hubby and I should have one. It would help us or our family make the tough decisions, should that time come.
Although there are DIY templates online that are supposedly acceptable in most states, I think it would be worth spending a few bucks to have a live lawyer make sure it's correct.
On that subject, you should all have a team of advisors: CPA, lawyer, financial advisor, at the very least. JMHO
May 2, 2008 - 7:10pmThis Comment
Such important information that is always so difficult to mull. To help prep folks for what to expect, here's a SAMPLE form from the American Academy of Family Physicians. But again, it is on a state-by-state basis.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990201ap/617.html
Does anyone have any stories to share about drawing up their own living will?
May 2, 2008 - 2:36pmThis Comment
I don't have one yet, but I really should. I would hate to have my family make those types of decisions and wonder if they made the right choice for the rest of their lives.
If we don't do it for ourselves, I think we should try to remember the rest of the people in our lives.
Do you know how I go about drawing one up?
May 2, 2008 - 2:13pmThis Comment