What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that allows you to specify your wishes about medical treatment if you become unable to make decisions for yourself due to illness or injury. It also known as an advance directive or healthcare directive. In the living will, you can state your wishes about how much medical care you would like to receive or decline, such as whether to be artificially kept alive or not. It can also address other issues, such as organ donation, pain management, feeding tubes, and other treatments, depending on the state. A living will is binding in Pennsylvania, and can be changed or revoked at any time. It should be kept with your other important documents and be communicated to your primary care physician, family, and/or trusted health care professionals. In Pennsylvania, a living will must be written according to the instructions outlined in P.L. 677, section 4584, paragraph (d). The document must contain your signature, the date it was signed, and witnessed by at least two people- not related to you, and not named as a beneficiary in your will. A living will can help spare your family the burden of making difficult medical decisions on your behalf, and give you more control over your life should you become incapacitated. It’s an important document for everyone, especially those who are elderly or living with a medical condition.

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