Living wills are legal documents that let you record your decisions for medical treatment ahead of time. They're also called advanced healthcare directives. With a living will, you can put your wishes in writing, accepting or rejecting certain treatments or procedures. This document is legally binding. An advanced healthcare directive also lets you name a representative who can make decisions on your behalf.
Medical treatment is a very personal thing. There may be certain treatments you want to avoid for religious or personal reasons. Having your choices in writing in a living will can make doctors and family members respect your decisions even if they don't agree.
Living wills "speak" for you if you're unconscious or unable to talk. Accidents can happen to anyone, so being prepared is smart. In many cases, having written instructions is a relief for your loved ones, because they know exactly what your wishes are.
A living will is a good place to make big decisions about medical procedures. You can also decide on end-of-life issues.
For example, some patients don't want to go through traditional kidney dialysis. Others want to become organ donors.
You can decide if and how long you want doctors to keep you alive if you're in a coma. You can make decisions about pain management, surgeries and any other medical issue that you're worried about.
