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Living Wills and Health Care Proxies
Not 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
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
Suze Orman's Will And Trust Kit: The Ultimate Protection Portfolio
I wonder what's on the country's mind?
no subject
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