LET YOUR CHOICE BE KNOWN

Every person of legal age needs a living will. A living will is a document that outlines your last wishes regarding what you want or do not want done medically in the event you are not able to convey these wishes yourself. You may also hear it referenced as an advance directive, health care directive or physician's directive. Not to confuse this with a living trust which deals with the distribution of assets.
It is important to understand that the living will is only effective if the attending physician's treating you declares that your condition is terminal or you are unconscious and in there best medical judgment in a permanent vegetative state. The living will would not be effective in such a cases like a heart attack if you did not have a terminal illness. In an incidents such as that, resuscitation efforts would be performed even if you have a living will.
So you ask why is this so important? First and foremost it is your life and you should be the one that makes this decision. When a loved one faces a life ending event it is an emotionally time for their family and friends. Having to make certain decisions if the individual hasn't documented their wishes can be heart wrenching. No..it does not by any means remove the deep sadness felt as they face the inevitable loss but to remove that task from them is a very loving act you can give them. It allows the family a sense of peace when the time comes to say their good bye.
I was not present the last day of my father's life...I was in surgery. He had a cardiac event at home and was taken to the hospital and put on life support because he had no accompanying terminal condition. Both my mother and the rest of my family knew my father's wish not to have his life prolonged by mechanical means. After a twenty four hour period where he stopped breathing and was resuscitated several times, they were given the choice to have him taken off of the ventilator. Through the pain, they signed the documents which allowed the doctors to have him removed from life support. When I received the call from my mother to inform me what had happened, I felt a sense of relief and was proud to know that my family was able to honor my father's last wishes. Had he not made this information known and documented, the family might have endured days, weeks or even months of just watching him having his body kept alive through artificial means.
You need to check the laws that govern a living will in your state of resident.
Following in depth research I found a website, Caring Connections, that could give you some assistance in regards to state specific laws. I am not by any means stating that this is the site you should use, I am just giving this for informational purpose only...you can use at your own discretion.
Once your forms are completed you can scan and upload on your LIFECompass PHR device so that if you are rendered unable to speak for yourself your wishes will be know.Your family will not have to go hunting for paper work to show proof.
It is a fact, most people don't want to talk about such a sensitive subject, but death is an inevitable phase in the life cycle...be sure you are the one who makes your final choice.