Living Will: A Document Wherein Preciseness is a Must
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A living will is created by an individual so that when he has a terminal disease, in a permanent vegetative state, and unable to communicate, his wishes whether to undergo life-prolonging treatments or not can be known. It’s a particularly important legal document that can prevent uncertainties among his families on how to proceed when he is in that unfortunate situation. However, the uncertainties of the situation can only be prevented by how clear that document is in manifesting the individual’s wishes.

The most common area of dispute is in interpreting what a permanent disability means. Doctors and family members usually have different opinions on the severity of a disability or chronic illness. They can even be different from your interpretation. To prevent this, the living will must be explicit in matters like the type of disease or disability, how sever it should be, and the diagnosis of physicians about the permanent effects of the medical condition. The conditions indicated in the living will should be medical in nature, with less ambiguity, and must conform to State legislatures where you live.

Do not specify time limits because people react differently to diseases or disabilities. Some recover faster than others do. It’s not advisable to mention something like after three months in that state, this is what must be done. Instead, focus on the prospects for recovery, the chances of a permanent disability, pain, or being in a vegetative state, and of course, based on your doctor’s professional judgment.

Drafting a living is so much easier these days with the help of the Internet. Resources and companies that offer their services are found online. There was a time when drafting wills, living trust, or filing for divorce online is unthinkable. Today, they are not just available, they are also recommended in most cases.