If you become unconscious or too ill to communicate your own medical care decisions then the staff will follow your living will, which gives you a voice in the type of treatment you want. As long as you are able to express your own decisions, your living will cannot be used and you can verbally refuse or accept any medical treatment you want. If you lose your ability the participate in your own medical treatment decisions, and you don't have a Living Will, then you have no say in the type of treatment you will get.
It is your legal right to make your own health care decisions. No health care or treatment may be given to you if you object (even life support), and no medical treatment you feel is necessary can be legally withheld from you. Anyone in Kentucky 18 years or older can have a living will.
The Kentucky Living Will Directive Act of 1994 ensures Kentucky citizens the right to make decisions regarding their own medical care.
In your living will you can even leave instructions about how to take care of you if you become unconscious or too ill to communicate. You can designate a health care surrogate, refuse or request life prolonging treatment, refuse or request tube feeding, and you can express your wishes regarding if organ donation. If you become pregnant, your living will is suspended until you pregnancy is over.
You don't necessarily need an attorney to draw up your living will; Kentucky law (KRS 311.625) actually states you should fill the form out yourself. Usually, if you make changes to your living will you will probably need the help and guidance an attorney could offer. Kentucky law also prohibits any of your relatives, heirs, guardians, or health care providers from witnessing your living will. Instead of finding witnesses to sign off on your living will you may just want to go to the Notary Public instead.
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