A living will states your wishes about the use of artificial life supports to keep you alive. Without a living will, some family members might want to keep you alive on life support for a few days or weeks longer, and others might not. Without a living will, one child might resent a sibling if that sibling made the decision not to keep you artificially alive, even though there was no hope of survival, much less recovery. A living will expressing your own desires removes that potential problem.

Your living will needs to follow the law of the state in which you reside. If it does not, then the court and your medical providers may not comply with it. Kentucky ElderLaw, PLLC, can draft a living will that complies with the law, ensuring that your relatives and medical providers will follow it.

Having a living will ease the burden and pangs of guilt your family may experience if you have not made this important long-term planning decision in advance and in writing. A living will is different from a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. A living will has no effect until you reach a hospital. The EMS worker’s job is to keep you alive for the few minutes it takes to transport you to the hospital.

At the hospital, physicians may still be able to deal with your medical issues, an option that might be impossible if you had a do not resuscitate order or DNR. A DNR is appropriate for someone who is known to be facing imminent death, such as from terminal cancer, and would apply to EMS workers as well as to hospital personnel.

If you have questions, schedule a consultation with Kentucky ElderLaw, PLLC. We can help you with every aspect of your durable power of attorney.

You can reach our Louisville office at 502-581-1111, our Bowling Green office at 270-467-0002 or our Shepherdsville office at 502-955-1005. You can also send our office an email.