Work & Family Benefits, Inc. Values Package ®
Monthly Bulletin
April 2005

Do YOU Need a Living Will?

Many people are more concerned than ever about:

•  what a living will is,
•  whether or not they should have one, and
•  if so, how to go about it.

A living will is also known as a “health care directive” or “advance directive.” A living will allows you to state your choices about your end-of-life medical care . You do not need to be elderly to make a living will – in fact, many legal cases concerning “right to die” issues involve people in their 20's-40's.

Some reasons to have a living will include:

•  Letting others know what you kinds of treatment you want, or don't want, at the end of your life , in case you are not able to speak for yourself at such time.
•  Letting your loved ones know your preferences now – to spare them from having to guess at and make decisions that might not reflect your feelings.
•  A living will prevents family members from being burdened with guilt and having conflict with each other: difficult decisions about your care come from you.

•  You can protect doctors and hospitals that carry out your wishes, so they will not be sued for respecting your desires .

You may want to discuss your intentions and wishes with loved ones if you are considering a living will. And, if you write a living will, be sure to give copies to your family, doctor, and hospital. (In fact, many hospitals routinely ask if you have a living will when you enter for any kind of treatment.)

It is legal in all states to decline (if you wish) aggressive life support when you are near death - while still retaining the right to be made comfortable. But, there are different statutes that need to be followed in order to make sure a living will holds up to the specific legal standards in your state. For this reason, it is usually advised that you consult with an attorney about a living will.

Deciding whether or not to have a living will is a moral, ethical, religious, practical, and highly personal decision. If wish to find out more about living wills, Work & Family Benefits can refer you to appropriate resources . Call us at 1-800-328-4071 .