Living Wills and Health Care Proxies
Mar. 22nd, 2005 10:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dsrtaoNot interested in having the government decide what's right for your health care while you're unconscious?
Didn't think so.
In most states, you can make a Living Will. In Massachusetts, such documents are apparently not valid -- but instead, we have the Health Care Proxy, which is actually slightly better: it lets you designate exactly *who* may make those choices for you.
This is a good time to look up the procedure in your state -- go on, Google for it -- and take care of it. Today. You might get run over by a bus, right?
Residents of Massachusetts can go to the URL above to download a PDF of the state form. Print it, fill it out, make a few copies. You could put a note in your wallet stating "My health care proxy is Foo Bar, 617 555 1212, Boston, MA" just in case, too.
Didn't think so.
In most states, you can make a Living Will. In Massachusetts, such documents are apparently not valid -- but instead, we have the Health Care Proxy, which is actually slightly better: it lets you designate exactly *who* may make those choices for you.
This is a good time to look up the procedure in your state -- go on, Google for it -- and take care of it. Today. You might get run over by a bus, right?
Residents of Massachusetts can go to the URL above to download a PDF of the state form. Print it, fill it out, make a few copies. You could put a note in your wallet stating "My health care proxy is Foo Bar, 617 555 1212, Boston, MA" just in case, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-22 06:41 pm (UTC)Living wills are usually not legally binding; you want both that (to document your wishes) and someone with power of attorney who you believe will honor your wishes.
News hits
Date: 2005-03-22 07:22 pm (UTC)Suze Orman's Will And Trust Kit: The Ultimate Protection Portfolio
I wonder what's on the country's mind?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-22 08:09 pm (UTC)If you were to have someone's Health Care Proxy or Health Care Durable Power Of Attorney - and someone like your parents decided to fight the quality of your proxy's decisions, then a Living Will is a very good way for them to legally defend their choices. For that matter, since someone with your power of attorney can dis-respect your wishes, a Living Will is a good way to make sure your parents can actually over-ride your proxy if they deviate from the evidence you left.
As an observation from my own life, I would wish to stay alive under more conditions now, than I would have selected when I was younger. So it is worthwhile reviewing it often.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-03-22 09:17 pm (UTC)