The importance of The Living Will and Health Care Proxy.

G'day Everyone.

Are you heading to the hospital? Even might wind up in the ER (emergency room) unexpectedly in life? Ever think a little simple surgery can some out wind up to be a major complication you didn't expect of? Especially if it's a life-changing experience?

When you go to the hospital, you MUST ask your interpreter, or your trusted friend to explain to you every form that is being put in front of you to sign. This is VERY IMPORTANT. Every hospital form may look typical, but what documents you are signing of should be explained to you. Especially two documents are very important that are VERY MANDATORY for both to be in your medical file. If the nurse or receptionist doesn't take the time to explain all the documents you have to sign of.. then SHAME OF THE RECEPTIONIST! Nobody should be taken advantage of if you didn't sign the two important documents. So what are they?


It's called: THE LIVING WILL.

********************************************************************************
As explained in the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Living will: Refusal of treatment form

A living will usually covers specific directives as to the course of treatment that is to be taken by caregivers. In some cases a living will forbids treatment and sometimes also food and water, should the principal be unable to give informed consent ("individual health care instruction") due to incapacity. A living will can be very specific or very general. An example statement in a living will is: If I suffer an incurable, irreversible illness, disease, or condition and my attending physician determines that my condition is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures that would serve only to prolong my dying be withheld or discontinued.

More specific living wills may include information regarding an individual's desire for such services such as analgesia (pain relief), antibiotics, hydration, feeding, and the use of ventilators or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, studies have also shown that adults are more likely to complete documents written in everyday language.

**********************************************************************************


Usually the Living Will goes hand-in-hand with another document :

Durable power of attorney and health care proxy

As explained in the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Durable power of attorney and health care proxy

Main articles: Health care proxy and Power of attorney
A durable power of attorney (also known as a lasting or enduring power of attorney) is an authorization in which the principal (the patient) designates another person (the agent) to make decisions for them in the event that the principal (patient) is rendered incapable of making their wishes known. If the decisions relate to medical treatment then the agent appointed is known as a health care proxy. The health care proxy has, in essence, the same rights to request or refuse treatment that the individual would have if capable of making and communicating decisions. A durable power of attorney may also apply to financial matters. In this case, the agent makes financial transactions on behalf of the agent, while the principal is incapacitated.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(both articles as found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_directive )

Folks, if you have never thought of these documents being so important in your life, you better do some serious thinking. Why? Without these two documents, it'll give doctors to do what they think is best of how to keep you alive against your wishes. You could end up in pain, discomfort, and die in a very painful than you can ever imagine of. I kid you NOT.

This is why you need someone to be your patient advocate for you in this hospital. This is where you need to sit down with your partner, or your spouse, or your best friend and have this LONG personal "WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IF THE WORST COMES TO WORST AND I CAN'T SPEAK OR DECIDE FOR MYSELF" situation. We're talking about every possible end-of-life-issues here.

Believe it or not, folks, we take hospitals for granted too much. We take our life for granted too much. We think every day that we're going to be OK and nothing major is going happen out of the blue when we go into that hospital for treatment on in a emergency accident some where.

But know what? Almost ANY THING can happen. A minor surgery can become a life threatening event that even prevents even the most healthy patient from being able to talk about how they are feeling to their doctor. It's not fun being trapped in your own body, unable to communicate to others of your feelings. It can be a horrible experience. And if you can't speak for your self, your doctor is going to do whatever he/she pleases to "help" you.

This is why you need to talk to someone who will make the decisions for you of how to do the best course of treatments. I know you feel that you rather be INDEPENDENT in this life, but don't take any chances. When you have a back-up person, (the health care proxy), you know you got someone looking out for you. It's important.

Don't take hospitals and doctors and nurses for granted, folks. They are human. They are bound to make mistakes. That's why a patient and health care proxy work together so that NOTHING goes wrong.

Please go to the link I'm posting here. It explains much more clearly about Living will/ Medical power of Attorney (similar to Health Care Proxy) and DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/living-wills/HA00014

You say: No.. I'm fine.. I'm young, I got a long time to live. I don't need a living will or Health Care Proxy. Oh, you roll the dice? Suppose you survive the first surgery, you feel OK. But what if the second one goes bad? Would you regret that decision?

You say: it's only for people when they are elderly!! I tell you, NOT TRUE. These documents apply to anyone from the age of 18 and older!

Consider these documents for your medical file. Not only you will have a peace of mind, but you know someone is going to be looking out for you.

I hope I give you something to think about in your life.

Semper FI.