Unclear about living wills

Zoomer | January 1st, 2006

Question: What is a living will. When should I prepare one? – A.N.

Answer:

A living will is simply a document in which you set out the conditions of your medical care in the final days of your life, or should you suffer from an incapacitating illness or injury. You can use it to express your wishes about being kept alive on life support systems, resuscitated, etc.

A convenient time to prepare one is while you are conducting a regular review of your will and powers of attorney. Should you have reason to believe that you may need one more urgently (you will be travelling, or a medical condition is worsening), by all means get it done. Like a power of attorney, it must be written while you have the requisite mental capacity. – G.P.N.