What is a living will?
A living will is a legal document that sets out your wishes regarding medical decisions that might be made if you become unable to make decisions yourself. In the state of Maryland, a living will is part of a larger package of documents called an advance medical directive. Living wills are an important part of disability planning law both in Maryland and across the United States. Living wills are written statements that express the wishes of an individual regarding end-of-life care. They are used in the case that a person becomes incapacitated and can no longer make decisions for themselves. Living wills typically include instructions on what types of treatments and medications an individual wants to receive, as well as directions on what types of treatments should not be given. They can also include instructions on organ donation and burial wishes. Living wills are very important because they allow individuals to make decisions ahead of time about how they want their medical care to be handled in the event they are unable to make decisions themselves. Living wills are just one component of an overall disability planning program. Other documents such as power of attorney and health care proxies should also be considered in order to ensure that disability planning is complete. It is important that individuals understand their disability plan and the legal documents that comprise it, and that they review them regularly to ensure that they are up to date.
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