If asked, most people would agree that they would not want to be kept alive by machines while in a vegetative state, following an accident or severe illness. But, if they knew that they would remain that way for only a month or so then would gradually get better, they might have a different opinion.

The truth is that none of us ever know what our futures hold. If we did, some would choose to die should we ever be extremely incapacitated whereas others would choose to hold out for treatment and possible recovery.

During serious medical tragedies some people are left with the inability to make these types of decisions and others are left to make the decisions for them. Typically the decision maker is the parent if the child is under 18 or unmarried and the husband or wife if the patient is married. If the spouse is already deceased the patient’s children are in charge of these decisions.

Unless the patient spoke specifically about their feelings on such matters before they were stricken the decision maker can be wrenched with questions of life or death and the loved one’s possible wants and wishes.

Spare your family this agony by having a living will made while you’re able. A standard form can be printed out from the Internet or you can have a more detailed living will drawn up by an attorney. the will should state the conditions under which you would prefer to pass on or to be maintained.

Specific time limits can be spelled out for recovery. For instance, you can state that you would like to be kept alive, as long as the financing for this expense is obtainable. Or, you can specify that unless you’ve improved within 6 months you would no longer like to continue being maintained. You can also specify certain things that you do not want, such as a “Do Not Resuscitate” order posted in your medical charts. This means that should your heart stop, physicians will not attempt to bring you back to life.

The living will must be contemplated seriously since a person doesn’t know what could happen in any particular instance. Should you order a “Do Not Resuscitate” you could pass on when the doctors could have saved you and you could have returned to a normal life. But if you don’t issue the resuscitation request in your medical charts you could be brought back only to live life as a practical vegetable.

The decisions are yours to make. Have a current copy notorized and signed by yourself and a witness. Pass out copies to local hospitals, family and friends. Keep the living will updated as the years go by to allow for new medical practices or a change of mind.