Why living wills are important

Living wills (also referred to as a "Health Care Directive") speak for you when you are unable to do so. In the unlikely situation you become incapacitated, your living will is binding upon your methods of health care treatment. Along with expressing your binding instructions, your living will designates someone (or several people) who can speak on your behalf if for some reason the living will does not provide proper information.

Your living will can help you avoid the problems presented by the Terri Schiavo matter. Her family disagrees about her wishes regarding her treatment. A living will would avoid this type of situation. It is almost impossible to overrule the instructions in a living will, and this often is because the person was not capable of signing the living will in the first place. This type of dispute rarely arises.

You can specify a wide range of options that you would like the living will to cover, such as receiving medical treatment that will allow you live as long as possible, or that you want to receive medical treatment unless you are in an irreversible coma.

For more detailed explanation of living wills (Health Care Directive) please read more of the information on this web site, or contact Achtel & Associates online or by phone- (858) 350-3124. We offer a free consultation with our living will package.