A living will exercises the right to self-determination in situations in which you are unable to make a decision about your current treatment. A living will therefore specifies in advance for certain medical situations whether and how you would like to be treated. For example, you can specify whether or not you wish to be kept alive in the event of permanent unconsciousness.
The provisions of a living will are binding for carers or authorized representatives and the physicians treating you.
A living will must be in written form and signed.
Medical situations must be specifically named (e.g. permanent unconsciousness, advanced dementia) for which it is then determined what treatment should or should not be given. The medical measures should be specified as precisely as possible (e.g. artificial respiration, artificial nutrition, resuscitation measures).
It is not mandatory, but it makes sense to add your own ideas about quality of life, illness, suffering and dying to the living will (e.g. what would be an acceptable quality of life for me and what would not?).
Notarization is not required, nor is regular updating of the signature. However, it makes sense to check occasionally whether the provisions of the living will still correspond to the current wishes. Personal attitudes to illness and suffering may change as you get older or if you develop a serious chronic illness.
No. A living will is a very personal document that reflects the wishes of an individual. The stipulations in a living will should always be tailored to the individual's particular life and/or illness situation. The stipulations can have far-reaching consequences and it is important to understand what will happen if the contents of a living will are implemented. For this reason, it is important and sensible to seek advice when drawing up such an advance directive.
The CEC offers patients and employees such advice and prepares an individual formulation proposal. There are no costs involved.
As a rule, we are able to meet the consultation request of patients undergoing inpatient treatment at the MHH within one or two days; in particularly urgent cases, a consultation on the same day is also possible. Outpatients are asked to make an appointment.
In this case, the attending physicians must determine the patient's wishes for the current situation together with the next of kin (or the legal representative).
This also applies if there is no living will.