Living Will...

On my first appointment with my Surgeon, I was given a Living Will packet and told I was required to have it done by October 7th.  I feel uncomfortable about this, but I know legally I have to have someone as my Power Of Attorney over my medical. But when I'm filling it out, I get depressed and scared. Is everyone required to have a Living Will done?

It is fairly normal practice.  I have a living will.........however, the one thing to have on there is that if you wish to continue to remain on life support, you can make that choice now.  I chose for them to pull the plug if my quality of life would never be the same again or if I get into a vegetative state.  I know it's a scary thought but it IS major surgery and anything could happen.  These are just your wishes should you become incapacitated.  Don't wanna have all the doctors making the choices for you :)

YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE ANYWAY !!!  The last thing you would want if you got seriously hurt ...doing anything... is not having 1 person to make medical descions...You should talk to that person and give them the "ammo" to do what you want...not what a commitee of others want.....especially if you do not have a great relationship with your family. I unfortunantely have seen families FIGHT over what to do  AND the least involved crazy one...you personally PERSONALLY HAVE THE WORST RELATIONSHIP WITH iS usually the loudest  !

DO NOT BE SCARED....BE RELIEVED...AND DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A "REQUIREMENT FOR THE SURGERY" CONSIDER IT A SERVICE TO THE ONES YOU LOVE  !!!!

Thank you..that just made so much sense to me. The last thing I want is people fighting over what should happen with me. At least now, I know my wishes will be respected.

It just makes me feel so uneasy to fill this thing out. I have gotten most of it done, and my wishes are in there concerning life support and organ donation. My son started crying when he asked me what I was filling out. I was honest and told him, and when I told him that if Jim, my boyfriend, for some reason can't be there to respect my wishes..my son is next on my list. He said he can't even imagine me gone, but he'll respect my wishes.

I have not been told I am required to have a Living Will. I am going to have one. I want my wished known and not to put my family through deciding what I might want.

In my family we got wills and such as soon as we were out of college. It is part of being an adult--to take responsibility for yourself. It's not so much about death, it's about protecting people you love. If you have minor children, you need to choose a guardian. If not, there may be money from a work insurance or the value of your car and possessions, not to mention a home. Having a will and a living will (although a power of attorney for health care is much more clear than a living will) protects your family. If you are not in a married relationship you next of kin, whether you like them or not, will decide where  you are buried and how the funeral will go. We have a notarized form for that too. By the way, docs don't even look at a living will unless you are about to die. If it's a matter of a respirator, you'll be put on it unless you have a POA for healthcare, which allows you to be much more specific on what and when you want....whatever. If you have strong feelings on this, get a POA for healthcare.

By the way, I teach this in med school.

Connie 

Lisa,

Living Wills are not required. Summa does ask that if you have one to let them have a copy. Brett and I have a whole set of legal documents; wills, powers of attorneys, living wills. LGBT people need them to assure their wishes are followed. We have a great gay lawyer in Ravennna if you want a lawyer. Private message me and I'll send his contact info to you.

On a similar note, Summa is the BEST when it comes to LGBT people. They treated Brett just as family. In their rooms you can read their visitation policy. They make it clear that family is inclusive of same sex people. It was good to see that. Dr. Z is very  supportive. There are many LGBT at support group and in the program.

If you don't want a living will, then don't fill it out.

Tom

I don't have one and my surgeon doesn't "require" one. BUT, I have 3 kids a 21 yo son in the military, a 19 yo daughter in college, and a 15 yo still in high school. I tryed to talk to my daughter and my 15 yo about what I want and my daughter walked out and completely left! I called her later and she said that I'm mom and dad and she would not be able to handle it if something was to ever happen to me. Which made me feel good but on the other hand worried me because my oldest is in Iraq and wouldn't be able to make any decisions for me. So the only other person I can make POA is my mother! And she doesn't agree with my wishes. I tryed to explain it to her but she still doesn't have a clue. So I have no idea who to name.
It is a very good idea for you to have one with you fixing to have major surgery. That's next on my agenda!
Good luck to you (((HUGZ)))

At first I wasn't sure about having a living will. It just freaked me out that I was given this packet to fill out. But now I realize that I need it. My family knows my wishes, and they have agreed to respect my wishes, but if that time ever comes, I'm not sure they would go through with what I want. Especially my kids. So, I'm getting my packet filled out and legally filed...I think it's the smartest thing I can do for myself and my family!

Thanks everyone for you advice..you all helped me a great deal..*hugs*