Living Will

Living Will: This document provides end-of-life instructions. Whereby the Health Care Proxy allows one to make medical decisions for another who is temporarily incapacitated, the Living Will provides instructions for what to do when someone is deemed permanently incapacitated, or incapacitated without a reasonable chance of recovery. This document determines which life-sustaining measure (antibiotics, breathing apparatus, feeding tubes, etc.) are to be employed, if any.

Common Myth: Spouses automatically have the right to make end-of-life decisions on each other’s behalf. While most health care facilities may consult with a spouse, they do not have to defer to a spouse. Also, this matter becomes problematic when spouses are estranged (or separated or divorcing) and other family members do not think it appropriate for estranged spouses to have that authority.