Before a person has a lawyer draw up a living will, it’s best to learn all about Living Wills in Bel Air MD. A Living Will is basically something that dictates a person’s wishes should that individual become terminally sick or enter a vegetative state. These types of directives can be either written or oral in nature. A written will is usually considered best because it works even if a person is unable to talk or otherwise communicate. Healthcare professionals are made aware of which services that an individual desires. For example, cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be something that a Living Will says shouldn’t be done.
As with most other things, Living Wills in Bel Air MD have both advantages and disadvantages. If a person doesn’t have a Living Will, someone close to the individual may be chosen to make healthcare decisions in the event of an emergency. These decisions may or may not be the ones that are truly desired. Even among close family members there may be different views on religion. This can cause a difference of opinion as to which medical treatments should be used. If a Living Will is in place, any confusion can be eliminated. The state won’t have to choose anyone to decide which procedures should and should not be done.
Attorney Michael S. Birch or another qualified attorney can draft a Living Will for anyone who is concerned about the financial costs of keeping them alive if they are in a persistent vegetative state. The medical costs can easily end up costing 10s of thousands of dollars. Families can go into debt due to these costs. Without the Living Will in place, some family members may not want to let go of their loved one and may end up bankrupt. There are cases where people have been kept alive by machines for years.
It has to be understood that Living Wills have limitations. In many cases, these documents are written in vague terms. It’s not uncommon for a Living Will to have ‘heroic measures’ a person doesn’t want done. The problem is that a doctor may disagree with what is and isn’t a ‘heroic measure.’ While some doctors may think feeding tubes fall into such a category, others don’t. As such, it’s best to be as descriptive as possible in a Living Will.
