A living will is a document by which you express your wishes regarding medical treatment and care in advance. Due to illness, old age, or an accident, anyone may find themselves in a situation where they are unable to communicate their desired treatment to healthcare professionals or loved ones themselves.
There are two basic models for advance directives. One focuses on treatment guidelines, and the other discusses various treatment and care wishes more broadly.
A healthcare directive can also authorise a substitute decision-maker.
The content of the living will is individual
The treatment wishes presented in a living will are individual. In it, you can define, for example, how you wish to be cared for, how long you want to live at home, and where you wish to be cared for when home care is no longer possible.
A living will can encompass a very wide range of personal matters, from basic hygiene needs, dressing, to beauty care and hobbies, as well as food preferences.
In treatment directives, you can state your position on, for example, resuscitation, intensive and palliative care, and other treatments you consent to or refuse. Your treatment directives will make things easier for both staff and your loved ones.
In your advance care directive, you can also specify to whom your treatment information may be disclosed and who may make decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so yourself.
What does a living will obligate you to do?
A treatment directive can contain both wishes and orders. Treatment orders, for example concerning life support prohibition and palliative care, are binding for healthcare professionals. Treatment wishes must be followed as far as possible.
An advance care directive allows you to exercise your right to self-determination until the end of your life. It also guides staff when relatives disagree with the care and its direction.
Valid care directive
Making a valid advance directive requires that the person making it sufficiently understands the meaning and content of the advance directive. It is advisable to make an advance directive while young and healthy, but it is also possible to make one even in a mild stage of dementia.
A living will should be drawn up in writing, although a verbally expressed will is also valid. A written living will is easy to verify, and the risk of misinterpretation is then small. A living will should be reviewed periodically to ensure it still reflects the will of its creator.
It is good to inform your next of kin, your own carer and the doctor treating you about your advance directive. It is recommended that a written advance directive be appended to your patient records. You can record it yourself in Omakanta. For an advance directive expressed verbally, the healthcare staff must make an entry in the patient records.
It is important that the care directive is known to the staff and that the care directive document is easily accessible when needed. This can be further ensured by carrying, for example, a care directive card.
Article drafted by: Lawyer Tuula Rainto and Deputy Judge Paula Kokkonen
Drawing up a care directive costs €180 in Åmå.
Related articles:
Do you know who will take care of your affairs when you can no longer do it yourself?
Hoitotahto on asiakirja, jossa henkilö kirjaa ymmärrettävässä muodossa, millaista hoitoa hän haluaa tai ei halua saavansa, jos hän tulee itsekyvyttömäksi hoitopäätösten tekemiseen.