Should we have a living will made before surgery ?

Hello sisters

I was just talking to my sister in law. Who is a nurse in Ontario, Canada. She told me that they give out a copy of the living will to be filled out before surgery, only thing is that the nurse CAN NOT be a witness to your signature. I go today for my pre-op and I will ask them for one there.
This is the best web site in the world. I am glad that I found this.
Your sister in waiting
Barb

Florida requires that a simple living will be witnessed and signed by an authorized notary. I asked an attorney before my surgery and she said I could write my own living will and then have it witnessed and signed by a notary. When I set up my appointment for my pre-opat the hospital they suggested if I had a living will to bring it with me to my pre-op appointment. I did and it was entered into my file. After speaking with the person I designated as my representataive , I gave a copy of my living will in a sealed envelope to that individual. Doing this gave me peace of mind that in case anything happened, my wishes would be followed.

Best wishes to all on your upcoming procedures.

I had my pre-op appt. yesterday. Even though the hospital had literature stating they could give me forms, they had no forms???!!!!! Does anyone know of a website that may be helpful? If I could stop worrying about this one thing, I'd only have 999,999 things to think about. Thanks for the help!

Murphy Brown

I have to drive through Pinellas Park FL on my way to work each morning and the Terri Schiavo issue has made me very concerned. I will definitely have a living will drawn up before my surgery.

I have been watching this all play out for about 10 years now...very, very sad situation.

Hi MurphyBrown!

RE: Your request for living will forms-you can call an atty. in your area, your local bar assn. or legal aid center, for info on any living will forms. I don't know which state you live in, but most states have standard forms which should be witnessed (not by medical professionals or relatives) and can then be notarized.

Good luck to you on your surgery!

Hello MURPHYBROWN
Not sure if this can help you.... Try the public Library and see if they have any books about How to make a living will or even just wills. My DD has one coming to her from the library. In the meantime my DH just found some information for me about living wills but it was called personal directives it even has a copy of a wallet size card that you can carry with you at all time. Let me know if you cant find the info and I can send you the website that he found it at.
Your sister in waiting
Barb

Hi Murphy Brown,
Your profile does not have what state you are from. There are some differances between states. Your are best to contact your Bar assoc, An estate planner, Even AARP may beable to help you, with laws in your area. Good luck on your surgery. I did do an advanced directive... ( living will) I also made my DH POA for health before my surgery. I have now made that perm. with a back up person also. I am in the process of drawing up POA papers for buisness.
Best wishes for your surgery.

Hey Sisters!

I work at a hospital and had my living will ,advance directives, and health care representative updated. (I got married last year.) The Pastoral Care department does them and there was no charge. The chaplain even made me extra copies.

These documents are so important and takes some of the burden off of your loved ones.

My surgery is less then 2 weeks away.

Take care,

Rhonda

I am a member of the Air National Guard and am required to have a will and if I chose a living will...I chose to. I've known too many people who didn't have a living will and the poor families had a terrible decision on their hands. Not that families don't know what is best, I just don't want mine to have to go through it all. It's bad enough for families to suffer the emotional stress, but there is the financial stress. Insurance only covers up to a certain amount, and when it's gone, it's gone. I also don't want to spend the last part of my life hooked up to a machine to stay alive. Others may feel differently, but it is a very personal decision...and it's yours, not anyone elses.

Good luck,
kathie

Hi ladies! Thanks for the help in finding paperwork. I did find a website that was very helpful. Perhaps some of you may want to look at www.midbio.org. They have downloadable forms for durable power of attorney for health care decisions and also health care directive forms. The forms are free. I didn't think I had enough time to have an attorney draw up papers...I have less than 2 weeks to go. I also had no idea how much that would cost, and the time off work is already putting quite a crimp in the budget. Thank goodness I found the Hyster Sisters site...you are all wonderful and have helped me prepare for this very scary surgery and recovery. Best wishes to everyone!

Murphy Brown