Living will - fill out forms correctly
Author: Diebestentest
Admittedly, a living will is an extremely difficult topic. For a long time it was considered taboo. Nevertheless, you should also deal with it. You prevent others from deciding your existence contrary to your senses if you need medical treatment. If it really does matter, it is important that you have completed the forms correctly.
Do medical retirement planning.
- Advance living directive form
With a living will, you determine whether and to what extent you want to receive medical treatment in the event that you can no longer express your own will. Since we are all getting older, the diseases of dementia, Alzheimer's or simply just aging. But even a serious accident can put you in a situation where you are unable to act.
Forms are available on the Internet or from a doctor
You then run the risk that in the event of illness you will be given all the medical technology that is available today but is not always used for the benefit of the patient. The use of medical devices is often influenced by the cost considerations of the hospital operator and the doctors.
- You can download forms for advance directives yourself from the Internet. Or go to your family doctor or a lawyer and ask them to draw up a living will.
- If you go to your family doctor, you have the advantage that the doctor can advise you on the details shown in the living will and will answer your questions professionally. But he is less familiar with the legal situation. If you go to a lawyer, he can advise you legally, but usually has to fit in with the medical details.
Read the alternatives in the living will
It is good if you have familiarized yourself a little with the content of such a living will. Then you can conduct a counseling interview emotionally easier and more intensely.
Filing an advance directive - you have to expect these costs
- The living will does not have to be notarized. It is also sufficient if you fill out the form, provide it with the place and date and sign it personally.
- You should also reread the order at certain intervals and confirm it again with your signature.
- It is always advisable that another person signs as a witness. If a doctor later doubts your living will, the witness can confirm the seriousness and authenticity. It is good if you include your family doctor in this regard.
- It is important that you personally deal with the questions contained in the living will, even if you have to worry about illness, suffering and your own death.
- The forms are detailed in terms of content. The point is that every attempt is made to do justice to every treatment situation. A general wording like "I don't want to vegetate away in agony" is of no use and presents the doctor with unsolvable problems.
- The forms are usually designed with alternatives. You must choose one of these alternatives by checking the alternative in question.
Complete your instruction with a proxy
- It makes sense if you also draw up a power of attorney for the living will. With a precautionary power of attorney, you authorize a third person to act for you if you can no longer express yourself or act. In particular, this authorized representative can also enforce your living will.
- In this way, you avoid that the district court appoints a person who may be a stranger to your supervisor if you can no longer act yourself. It is better if you choose a person you trust in good time.
- Discuss with the authorized representative whether he would like to take over this task for you. Also discuss your ideas about how you would like to be treated in an emergency. Usually, the life partner is best suited for this. He knows you personally and knows how you feel and think.