Living Wills and medical power of attorney.

[carol b]

I think that it would be easier to have a living will or power of attorney
ready before you absolutely need one. I have an eighteen year old son
who is being treated for cancer. We had to fill one out and right now it
is incomplete but signed and I and his father can make medical decisions
on his behalf if need be.
I hadnt thought about these things until now and it would have been easier
to get him to fill it out properly when he wasnt sick. If you have a child who
is about to become an adult please get the forms and fill them out. It is so
much easier now than later.
It would also be good to have each of you as spouses to have these readily
available. It makes decision making so much easier and life simplier during
difficult time. Check with your local hospital for the forms they have them and can provide you with them.

[kst$]

My Mother in law recently got all her kids together and had a living will made out. She told them what she wanted done in emergencies and what she didn't want in the way of keeping her alive. If it would bring her back but make her quailty of life worse pull the plug she said. It was really hard to hear her wishes but they are her wishes and you have to respect that and not let your selfishness of wanting them to live on get in the way.

[moneysense]

This would also be very helpful for families like mine where there are many children involved and it would prevent a lot of fighting among the children at a time when there should be none at all.

To let your family know you wishes is the very best thing you could possibly do, I know that if I couldnt have any kind of quality of life as I would like, I would want them to let me go. I am too active to be sitting in a chair or lying in a bed the rest of my days, especially if my mind is still working properly.

Plus, I wouldnt want anyone to have to pay all the bills that would come with my having to be taken care of.