Living Will Scholarly Articles

With a little research and reflection you may create your own living will.

Living will scholarly articles. A living will is a written legal document that spells out medical treatments you would and would not want to be used to keep you alive as well as your preferences for other medical decisions such as pain management or organ donation. Pmc free article luttrell s. A living will is a written legally binding document that informs your doctors about your preferences for medical care at the end of life. Intensive care is an expensive and limited resource consuming up to 20 of the entire hospital budget and 1 of the nation s gross domestic product overall 25 of patients that require intensive care die while in the icu this is in part due to the aging population because intensive care is being offered to an older and more unwell group of patients.

Nurses must understand the history and nature of advance healthcare directives to help patients make informed decisions prior to a crisis. Major milestones in the history of advance directives have resulted from cases of healthy young. Decisions and care at the end of life. Pmc free article gordon m singer pa.

In determining your wishes think about your values. Consider how important it is to you to be independent. The aging population is increasing and individuals are living longer and often seeking healthcare alone. Living wills do have legal effect provided certain criteria are met.

Pmc free article hope t. Of 88 patients with complete data including physicians and family members 29 33 wanted their living wills to block intubation mechanical ventilation only if they were deemed terminal and 46 52 wanted the living will to block intubation even if there was a 10 chance of recovery.