A Living Will is one type of Florida advance health care directive which tells your doctor or other health care providers what, if any, life-prolonging procedures you want administered to if you are in a terminal condition, a persistent vegetative state or an end-stage condition. Life-prolonging procedures are those that prolong dying and are not expected to cure your condition or make you better. For example, a mechanical respirator to help you breathe is one form of commonly used life-prolonging procedure. A feeding tube is another when you are unable to eat on your own. A Living Will should not be confused with a Will or a Living Trust as they are all different and serve different purposes. Unless you state otherwise in the living will, you will receive medication for pain to make you as comfortable as possible where appropriate.
The failure to have a Living Will likely will create difficulties for you and your loved ones. Having one set up can save a lot of time and headaches in the future. Many critical health decisions need to be during times of great stress and frequently when you may be unconscious, mentally incapacitated, or otherwise unable to participate in the decision-making process. Providing these very important instructions in advance your loved ones will have the guidance as to what you wanted thereby minimizing disputes and relieving them of the stress regarding whether they are making the right decisions for you.
As you can see, a Living Will is an important piece of your estate plan and we are here to help you design an estate plan that best fits your desires and the needs of your family. Please contact us to today to discuss your estate planning goals and needs.
Daniel M. Genet, P.A.
Contact us at:
813.872.8787
or
[email protected]