Also known as “Declaration as to medical or surgical treatment” in Colorado, a living will is an estate planning tool that carries the advance directives of an adult’s future medical and end-of-life care. Although most people assume living wills are only useful for terminally ill people, any adult who is at least 18 years old may create a living will to plan for their future.
What can I include in my medical directives?
Your healthcare providers can use your living will if your deteriorating health conditions have caused you to be in a permanently unconscious state (comatose), you become mentally incapacitated or you reach your end-of-life care.
It may include specific instructions about your:
- Artificial nutrition and hydration
- Administration of IV or tube medications
- Pain management
- Artificial life support conditions
- Organ and tissue donation
When you have a living will, you hold legal consent over your future medical and treatment decisions in case you suffer a life-threatening accident or terminal condition.
Can I update my living will?
Yes, you can update or cancel your living will at any time. Before you replace your original document, you must get back all the previous copies first and write “REVOKED” across each copy with your signature and the date on which you revoked it.
To die with dignity and grace
When you have a living will, you empower yourself to be taken care of by your doctors, healthcare providers and loved ones according to your own conditions and leave this world with lasting honor.