Why do I need a living will?

By Christopher Adkins

Living wills, also called an advance directive regarding a natural death, allow a person to express their desires and preferences regarding medical treatments in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes later due to unconsciousness or incapacity. Having a living will is beneficial for a number of reasons:

Benefit #1: You are in control of the outcome. Having a living will is advantageous because it allows you to control the outcome in advance. In the event that an accident or disease renders you incapable of making your own medical decisions, with a living will set in place, you can rest assured that decisions regarding your medical treatment will be carried out.

Benefit #2: Make decisions easier for your loved ones. Without a living will, your loved ones are burdened with making difficult medical decisions on your behalf. By having a living will, you relieve this burden and stress from them by having already elected what medical decisions you want. Not only does this create less stress for your loved ones, it prevents potential arguments among your family members.

Benefit #3: Control what treatments you receive. Not everyone wants the same medical treatments. Having a living will allows you to refuse any medical treatments you may not want.

Benefit #4: Insure that medical providers follow your wishes. It goes without saying that your doctor wants to do their best to follow your wishes and desires regarding medical treatments. With a living will set in place, your can insure that your doctor will follow your desires, and not just do what they feel is best. This allows you to retain control of your medical treatment instead of decisions simply being made by your doctor.

Benefit #5: Prevent financial burdens for your family. People who suffer from permanent illnesses and medical conditions can require long-term care, which can be extremely expensive. If you are in a coma and require long-term life support, for example, you may incur very large medical bills, which may require your family to help pay for your treatment and care. Having a living will set in place can help manage and prevent any unnecessary financial encumbrances for your family.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with an estate planning attorney to discuss living wills, contact Adkins Law. Adkins Law has offices in Huntersville and Ballantyne for your convenience.