Does Massachusetts Law Recognize Living Wills?
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People often confuse a living will with a health care proxy. In a living will, in some states, you can detail your wishes for medical care in the event of your incapacity in a legally binding document.
Massachusetts law does not recognize living wills- instead, you can draft and sign a health care proxy, giving a trusted individual the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf. You can, and should, give that person as much information as you can about what you want. In the end, the person you designate as health care proxy will have the power to make all of those decisions, hopefully informed by conversations you have had with them. It still may make sense to have a living will, however. For one, it is something your health care proxy can refer to when making difficult decisions. For another, if you end up injured in a state that recognizes living wills, it can help ensure that your wishes are followed. Learn more here about living wills and health care proxies under Massachusetts law. |
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