~ Before Having Surgery ~
Create a  Living Will

  What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that specifies what treatments, particularly life-prolonging treatments, you wish to receive or not receive should you become incapacitated and unable to relay your wishes yourself.  It is especially important to create a living will prior to having surgery so put it on your to-do list when preparing for surgery.

  What exactly does a living will specify?

A living will specifies what life-prolonging treatments, such as whether or not to place you on life support and for how long and whether or not to resuscitate you.

  In what instances would I need a living will?

It is always good to have a current, updated living will, particularly when you are preparing for surgery. A living will eases the stress and contemplation your family would endure when faced with making decisions regarding your treatment. Furthermore, it ensures that your treatments are indeed carried out according to your wishes.

How and when are the specifications in a living will executed?

The specifications in your living will would go into effect when your primary physician, and in some states a second physician, deemed you incapable of making decisions for yourself. Your physician would have to declare you permanently unconscious. For example, if you suffer a heart attack or stroke and are resuscitated and expected to recover, your living will would not take effect. It would only take effect if your recovery was considered impossible.

  How and where can I get a living will?

Different states have different laws regarding the preparation and execution of living wills, so you should consult with a lawyer in your state when preparing your living will to ensure the legality of it. It is a good idea to consult the same lawyer that you use for your estate planning for the preparation of your living will. You'll want to make sure that you keep your living will updated.

You can also find quality legal resources on the Internet today about creating living wills. One such resource is a company called  LegalZoom, a California based company created by famed attorney Robert Shapiro.  While the site caters to many different legal issues - for all intense purposes I am focusing on their ability to delivery legally binding living wills that are valid within every State at an affordable price.

Some advantages of using an online legal service are:

• It is cheaper than hiring a traditional attorney.  For example: at LegalZoom you will pay between $39.00 to $79.00 to create a living will (at least at the time of this printing) saving you $300 or more over traditional attorney fees.
• Easy questionnaire style forms
• A document assistants carefully reviews your information making sure you avoid some of the most common errors when creating a living will
• The living wills are valid in every state
• You can update it easily and at any time
• Your information remains confidential and secure
• Your living will is processed and mailed (first class mail) within 48 hours (or sooner if needed)

The important thing here is all of us should have a living will and if you create one online - it's quick, it's easy, it's done!

  Where should I keep my living will?

Keep your living will in a safe place, such as an in-home safe or safety deposit box. Disclose to your family and doctor that you have a living will and make sure that someone trustworthy knows where your living will is stored and can access it if necessary.

A living will is never going to be your first choice for conversation but it should always be your first consideration before having surgery.  Include this simple yet often overlooked step when you prepare for surgery.
 

Mary Edison has been helping people prepare for surgery and recovery for over 25 years. She knows all the ins and outs of getting prepared for surgery and creating a successful and speedy recovery.  She has also created her "Heartfelt Gift Pick" get well list that will help you find that special and unique get well gift, something that's totally out of the ordinary ~ for your loved one or friend who is ill.

For more information about Mary, please visit Prepare For Surgery Now .  You can also download her free copy of "Your Guide to Less Stressful Surgery" so you can be completely prepared when you need to have surgery.