Living Will: Providing Peace of Mind for You and Your Family

If only there’s a living will made, the families of Terri Schiavo wouldn’t have gone through that harrowing experience back in 2005. It was a terribly sad event that gripped the consciousness of everyone in America. Miss Schiavo fell into a coma in 1990, and after 3 years, her husband decided to authorize her doctors to remove the feeding tube on her. This is after several doctors told Michael that Terri has no hope of coming out of the coma. Terri’s parents disagreed with this, and a legal battle ensued which lasted for years. Finally, in 2005, the courts upheld the decision of Michael, being her legal guardian. She died 13 days after removing the feeding tube.

What happened to Terri Schiavo would have been easier to resolve had there been a living will. It’s a legal document stating the desire of the individual who made the will whether or not he or she wants to receive treatments that will prolong his or her life. This document will give the medical instruction needed in the event that he or she become terminally ill and couldn’t communicate those wishes, like what happened to Terri Schiavo.

Once you reach the legal age of 18 years old, it’s a brilliant idea to have a living will. You should discuss this with your family and doctor, so that they’ll know what your wishes are. As much as possible, hire a lawyer or check out online companies that can assist you on the legal aspects of this document. Online companies provide many types of services these days, even divorce online or drafting a living trust, and they are often cheaper than retaining a lawyer. Making your living will now will only cost you time and a small amount of money, but the benefits it’ll provide is innumerable.