A Living Will, formally known as A Desire for Natural Death in North Carolina, and also called a “health care directive,” an “advance directive”, or a “physician’s directive,” is a legal document we at Kelly & West can create with you to spell out your wishes for life prolonging medical treatments and all related decisions. Why is a Living Will important? In the event you become incapacitated or are in a position where you are no longer able to voice your concerns and opinions regarding your health care, this document will give family and doctors instructions about how to proceed with any needed treatment. A Living Will is crucial for guiding your loved ones through your treatment preferences in the case of a terminal illness or other medical issue that leaves you unable to communicate. A Living Will allows you to specify in detail what medical treatments you will allow and those you reject. Whether maintaining a natural death is important to you or utilizing any and all forms of artificial life support is what you want, we at Kelly & West can ensure that your wishes and desires are clearly spelled out for those you love and for your doctors by drafting a Living Will for you.
In contrast, a Do Not Resuscitate Order commonly known as a “DNR,” is issued not by an attorney but by a doctor to an elderly or terminally ill patient. A DNR is issued after consulting with a patient and their family where a decision is reached that the patient should not be resuscitated if their heart or breathing begins to fail.
The attorneys at Kelly & West want you to be prepared. Contact us today for a free consultation.
