A living will communicates your last wishes and are legally binding documents that dictate the medical care a person wants, or does not want, in certain situations.
A living will is a legal document that you create specifying different medical decisions which may or may not come into play, should you ever become incapacitated and cannot make the decisions on point.
A health care proxy is a legal agent you appoint to make all medical decisions for you in the event you are incapacitated and cannot make these decisions yourself.
Although these options exist, many Americans delay discussing their last wishes with family members.
America’s National Health Care Decisions Day, April 16, was established to encourage Americans to document their wishes relating to medical treatment, should they become incapacitated or unable to express their decisions, Top News reports.
Americans may become debilitated due to an accident or sudden illness, rendering them helpless and unable to make important medical decisions. Having an advance directive in place will outline the individuals’ wishes through either a living will or a health care proxy.
Many individuals register advance directives to protect their families from the burden of making difficult medical decisions. Individuals may also consider purchasing a life insurance policy to ensure their families would be financially stable in the event of a sudden death.