Having a living will ease the burden and pangs of guilt your family may experience if you have not made this important long-term planning decision in advance and in writing. A living will is different from a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. A living will has no effect until you reach a hospital. The EMS worker’s job is to keep you alive for the few minutes it takes to transport you to the hospital.

At the hospital, physicians may still be able to deal with your medical issues, an option that might be impossible if you had a do-not-resuscitate order. A DNR is appropriate for someone who is known to be facing imminent death, such as from terminal cancer, and would apply to EMS workers as well as to hospital personnel.

A Living Will gives you a voice in your care, even when you can’t speak for yourself. Our trusted Living Will attorneys in Kentucky and Indiana are here to help you create one that reflects your wishes.