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Living Wills - Make your wishes known
The emotional story of Terri Schiavo has created intense interest in living wills. Generally, a living will directs that certain artificial life-sustaining measures doctors and hospitals are normally expected to take be withheld if you have a terminal medical condition or are in a permanent coma. Each state describes these threshold medical conditions in general terms, and it's left to doctors to determine whether a person's condition falls within that description. Talk to your doctor now about your particular preferences.
You also might want to have a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, another form of advance directive, which directs doctors and other hospital personnel not to revive you if you stop breathing. It's important that your personal physician have a copy of any type of advance directive. Loved ones should know your wishes, too, so that they don't have to guess what you would want to happen at this difficult time.
Talk to your attorney. The clearer you are in making your wishes known, the greater the chances that they'll be followed by family members, doctors and hospitals.
A living will may also keep your assets from being dissipated for expensive medical care that has no hope of success. Treat a living will as you would any other legal document. It should be drawn up and signed according to the requirements of your state's law.
