A living will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for medical treatment if you become incapacitated and are unable to communicate. It is important to have a living will in place to ensure that your wishes are respected and followed in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
Sample Free Living Will Forms
Here are eight sample free living will forms in PDF and MS Word format:
- Basic Living Will Form: This form outlines your general wishes for medical treatment, including whether or not you want to receive life-sustaining treatment.
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This form allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
- Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This combined form includes both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.
- Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): This form is for individuals with serious illnesses or conditions, and outlines specific types of medical treatment that should or should not be provided.
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: This form instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR or other life-saving measures if your heart stops or you stop breathing.
- Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST): This form is similar to the POLST form, but includes additional information about your goals of care and treatment preferences.
- Declaration of Anatomical Gift: This form allows you to donate your organs and tissues for transplantation after you die.
- Authorization for Disclosure of Protected Health Information: This form allows healthcare providers to share your medical information with designated individuals or organizations.
Why You Need a Living Will
Without a living will, decisions about your medical treatment may be left up to family members or healthcare providers. This can be stressful and may not result in the outcome that you would have wanted.
Having a living will in place can help ensure that your wishes are respected and followed in the event that you are unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself. It can also provide guidance to your loved ones and healthcare providers during a difficult time.
Creating a living will is an important part of planning for the future. It allows you to take control of your medical treatment and make sure that your wishes are respected, even if you are unable to communicate.
How to Create a Living Will
There are several steps involved in creating a living will:
- Think about your wishes for medical treatment: Consider the types of treatment that you would or would not want to receive in various situations, such as if you were in a coma or had a terminal illness.
- Talk to your loved ones: Discuss your wishes with your loved ones and make sure that they are aware of your preferences.
- Consult with a healthcare professional: A healthcare professional can help you understand your options and make informed decisions about your medical treatment.
- Complete the necessary forms: Choose the living will form that best meets your needs and complete it according to the instructions.
- Sign and distribute copies of the form: Make sure that your living will is signed and witnessed as required by your state’s laws. Distribute copies of the form to your healthcare providers, loved ones, and anyone else who may need to refer to it in the future.
Creating a living will can be a simple and straightforward process. By taking the time to complete this important document, you can ensure that your wishes for medical treatment are respected and followed, even if you are unable to communicate.
Conclusion
A living will is an essential document for anyone who wants to take control of their medical treatment and ensure that their wishes are respected in the event that they become incapacitated. By completing a living will, you can provide guidance to your loved ones and healthcare providers, and make sure that your wishes are followed, even if you are unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself.
If you do not have a living will in place, now is the time to act. By consulting with a healthcare professional and completing the necessary forms, you can create a living will that reflects your wishes and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Remember, creating a living will is an important part of planning for the future. By taking control of your medical treatment and making your wishes known, you can ensure that you receive the care that you want and deserve, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
