Page 63 - Bespoke EPG 2017 Digital
P. 63
THE LIVING WILL
■■ The living will is a legal document that states the type of medical treatment
a person would like his medical practitioner(s) to follow if he is unable
to express these wishes himself, either because he is terminally ill or
permanently unconscious.
■■ A living Will states the types of medical treatments that can and cannot be
used.
■■ Living wills typically cover issues such as artificial life support, resuscitation,
organ donation, tube feeding, and whether organs are to be made available
for medical research or donated for transplants.
■■ It is a separate document to a Last Will and Testament. It should not be
incorporated into the Last Will and Testament or attached to it, as the Last
Will and Testament only comes into effect upon death, which would be too
late.
■■ It should be signed when of sound mind, and after careful consideration, and
in the presence of two witnesses.
■■ The contents should be discussed with the estate planner’s medical doctor,
and a copy provided for the doctor or hospital’s file.
60
