Screen 18: End of Life Issues
None of us want to think about serious illness or injury. However, catastrophe can happen to any one of us at any time. It is good to think about these things now while we can still consider our options make choices about our health care. A Living Will is used to tell our loved ones and health care providers our values and preferences about death and the time leading up to death. Many people have strong feelings about life-prolonging treatment such as the use of a respirator (a machine used to help you breathe) and resuscitation (restarting the heat after it stops). Some people may believe that when death comes, it is natural and we should not prolong life artificially. Others believe that life is a precious gift and we should do whatever we can to prolong it. Neither view is right or wrong. These opinions are based on values or belief systems. Your values may be influenced by your spiritual beliefs or by past experiences. Values are very personal and each person's values are unique. In a Living Will, you can state your preferences about life-prolonging treatment so that if your loved ones are ever faced with tough decisions about prolonging your life, they will know what you would choose. It is much easier to make those tough decisions when you are following the wishes of the person as stated in the Living Will. In this way, creating a Living Will is a gift to your loved ones.
Would you like to give instructions about end of life issues?
YES, I wish to give instructions about End of Life Issues
NO, proceed to Screen 22: Final Page
BACK to Screen 17: Emergency Intervention
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