Living will (advance decision)

Although a living will can be made either in writing or orally, it’s advisable to make it in writing. You can save your living will in the Kanta service and either deliver it to the unit responsible for your care or inform the unit about its existence. It’s also advisable to tell the people close to you about the existence and location of the living will. You should review and update the contents of the living will regularly.

You can write your own living will or use a template. The presence of two witnesses not related to the person making the living will is recommended, but not mandatory. The living will is valid even if it only contains the date and the author’s signature. The links provided here offer guidance for making a living will as well as examples of templates.

A living will is legally binding on healthcare professionals as well as on family. Going against the living will is prohibited, unless there are reasonable grounds to assume that the living will has changed since the document was drafted, due to reasons such as changes in circumstances (for example, introduction of new treatment options that were not known to the person when the living will was drafted).

A living will allows the person to rule out procedures that they do not wish to be used in their care (for example, tube feeding, mechanical ventilation, intensive care, or resuscitation). Additionally, a living will may contain more specific information about the patient’s wishes on matters such as hospital transfers, treatment with antibiotics, or refraining from hydration. It’s therefore advisable to talk to those responsible for your care about what the end-of-life stage might look like in the case of your illness, and what you should prepare for.

A living will can’t be used to personally order a certain type of treatment, but it may include statements regarding how you wish to be cared for at the end of life, such as preferences concerning music or food. Although these advance statements are not legally binding on healthcare professionals, the wishes expressed in them are followed if possible.

A person over 18 years also may also draw up a continuing power of attorney in advance. The granter determines the matters covered by the power of attorney. These may include the right to manage the granter’s property and other financial affairs, as well as matters concerning the granter, such as healthcare. Once the power of attorney becomes topical, a doctor provides a statement on the granter’s legal capacity. Next, the continuing power of attorney must be confirmed by completing the application to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.