What is a Living Will?
A living will is a document concerning life-sustaining treatment for an individual unable to make such decisions for herself. These are often in coordination with a Healthcare Power of Attorney. A living will can be drafted by any person 18 years of age or older, is a high school graduate, is married, or is an emancipated minor.
The living will should be drafted by counsel and must be signed by the person indicating their desires for life-sustaining treatment, called the principal, and witnessed by two other people. Health care providers to the principal cannot witness the living will.
What You Need to Know
A living will is dormant and only becomes effective when a copy is provided to the ateending physician of the principal and the attending physician determines that the principal is incompetent and to have an “end-stage medical condition or to be permanently unconscious”. The attending doctor must certify this in writing.
A living will is dormant and only becomes effective when a copy is provided to the attending physician of the principal and the attending physician determines that the principal is incompetent and has an “end-stage medical condition or is to be permanently unconscious. The attending doctor must certify this in writing.
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