Living Will Form vs. Health Care Power of Attorney Form

A will to live, formally called a living will form, is aAmericans have had to make end-of-life health
type of advance directive. These legal forms arecare decisions for their family. A living will form will
usually required to be notarized or signed andkeep your family members from making these
dated by witnesses.critical, emotional, and frightening decisions.
A living will form usually covers specific directionsYou are also entitled to fill out a do not
as to what kind of medical treatment yourresuscitate order if you so choose to do so, this
caregivers will give you or are not allowed to giveorder will not allow your caregivers to put you on
you. Some people go as far as to refuse foodlife support. Often times depending on the hospital
and water if they become incapacitated. A will toand jurisdiction they will withhold do not
live is just that though, it is intended to forceresuscitate orders until their confirmed or simply
caregivers to give you the kind of medicalnot even recognize their legal power. Most
treatment you want if you can't communicatehospitals will not perform intubations or
those directives yourself. You are consideredresuscitation only when faced with these orders
unable to communicate when you becomebut they will treat infections, pump food and fluids
incapacitated or brain damaged.directly into your blood stream, use pain
Another form similar to a living will form is amanagement, and adequate comfort care are
power of attorney for health care form. A poweroften times continued.
of attorney for health care form appoints someThese types of forms are valid as soon as they
one you trust of your choosing to direct yourare notarized or witnessed, copies should be given
health care decisions.to your doctor, family, and any one else you feel
End-of-life health care decisions can be verymay need a copy.
difficult and emotional on your family; 1/3rd of