| Perhaps you may have listened to a particular popular | | | | personal matters to be addressed after you are no |
| song by the rock band Metalica. It details the plight | | | | longer living. A "living will", on the other hand, is |
| of a wounded solder who is left with no arms or legs. | | | | written to allow you to dictate how your personal |
| He has also lost his ability to see hear and speak as | | | | and medical affairs will be handled should you not be |
| well, so he really had problems. | | | | able to communicate your wishes while you are still |
| Are You Into Metalica Dude? | | | | alive. |
| The gist of the song, is that his wishes to not be | | | | But I Feel Just Fine! |
| kept alive by intrusive medical procedures were not | | | | It can happen to anyone at any time. An auto |
| being addressed. So there he laid in bed a complete | | | | accident, a stroke and in an instant your brain is |
| veritable. However what the song fails to mention is | | | | turned to cottage cheese. From that point on you will |
| that he obviously didn't have a living will. | | | | be left in the hands of other people who may not |
| Read My Lips - No New Taxes! | | | | have your best interests at heat. This is why |
| While the song is about a fictitious character, the | | | | everyone no matter how old that you are you |
| fact of the matter is that this exact same tragedy is | | | | should have a living will written up. |
| played out every day all over the globe. People who's | | | | A Personal Letter Won't Do |
| wishes are not being addressed because they are | | | | It is important to note that a simple hand written |
| unable to communicate them or are completely | | | | letter will not work for a living will. Even if you have |
| incapacitated. | | | | signed witnesses on the letter, it is still pretty much |
| But I Don't Like Creamed Spinach!!!! | | | | worthless in a court of law. A living will must be |
| Of course, you probably know what a will is. Its a | | | | drawn up by an attorney in order for it to be of any |
| legal document that stipulates how you want your | | | | use in an actual emergency. |