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Frequently asked questions:
Q What exactly is a Living Will?
A It is a legal document that describes the type of health care you want and/or don’t want to receive in a critical life event. It is to be followed by those attending you if you cannot then make your own health care decisions. As an example, a Living Will can state whether or not you want to be placed on life support, fed intravenously or resuscitated.
Q Do I also need to have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care? I have heard that a Living Will does not offer enough protection.
A A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, sometimes also called a healthcare proxy, is not required but is an excellent idea. This is a legal mechanism that appoints a specific person to make important health care decisions for you. It applies in situations, such as an accident, where you are not in a terminal condition but still are not able to make treatment decisions for yourself. Do be sure that any such instrument also agrees with the terms of your Living Will. You do not want one document to conflict with the other. Some of our linked Resources can provide further related guidance and forms.
Q Should I worry about the confidentiality of my registered Living Will information?
A No. Unlike a credit card or other personal information, there is little risk associated with one’s living will information. Your LWS.com ID card carries much less information than a driver’s license or other identification. The information is only of value in a critical care situation. Access to the information you registered needs to be carried with you and available to any medical or other emergency personnel wherever an unforeseen need arises. Actually, the more people that know you have registered living will data the better.
Q Do a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, if applicable, have to be followed?
A Yes, assuming that they are in conformity with the laws that apply to them.
Q Can I make changes to or revoke my Living Will or other directives?
A Yes. The best way to do this is to physically retrieve and destroy all copies of the old document(s). While doing so, the new replacement should be distributed making all recipients aware of the change. Naturally, this includes updating your registered data with LWS.com.
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