Mental Health America of Virginia The voice of reason in mental health advocacy

Screen 19: End of Life Values

We cannot possibly predict everything that will happen to us in our lives, so creating a detailed Living Will that provides guidance on every possible scenario is not possible. Medical techniques also change and what may be a terminal disease today may not be terminal ten years from now. Our feelings about end of life and specific treatments can also change over time and circumstances. Therefore, it is helpful to include value statements in your Living Will which can guide your loved ones and physicians as they make decisions about injuries and illnesses that are not clearly specified in your instructions. You can choose one of the value statements below or you can write your own to be included in your Living Will. You may also choose not to include a values statement.

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