A living will is a legal document Minnesota recognizes that gives you the ability to outline what you want to happen to you medically if certain circumstances come to fruition. You may use a living will to state your preferences in a variety of areas related to your health care, and it may take some of the stress off of your loved ones who might otherwise have to make medical decisions on your behalf.
What are some of the things you may want to address in your living will? The American Cancer Society notes that many people choose to address the following areas, among others, when drafting living wills.
Whether you want resuscitation
You may use your living will to dictate whether you want to undergo resuscitation, should your medical condition warrant it. For example, if you do not want doctors to try to restart your breathing or heartbeat in extenuating circumstances, make note of this in your living will.
Whether you want palliative care
Whether you want physicians to use pain medications or other measures to improve your comfort level is also something you may address in your living will.
Whether you want to donate organs
You may also use your living will to state whether you want to become an organ or tissue donor.
Whether you want medical staff to feed you
Your living will may also contain guidance about whether you want to receive fluids or food through an IV or feeding tube.
Keep in mind that the living will only comes into play if you have a terminal illness or fall into a state of permanent unconsciousness.
