Those who are in a vegetative state and do not have a Living Will are, of course, better off. People need to know, though, that many of the Living Wills that are used today have big problems.
Wills must be easy to understand.
A lot of the trouble comes from the fact that medical staff often misinterprets standard Living Wills. Most of the time, these forms are one size fits all and are driven by the law, so they don't flow medically. Also, they are often suggested to people who are near the end of their lives and have already agreed to only receive comfort care or hospice care. Because of this, when medical staff sees a Living Will, they automatically think of less care. This is why a standard Living Will is dangerous, and it may put your care and safety at risk.
Most people who make Living Wills don't know about this problem and want to be cared for, unless they are terminal despite medical efforts or stuck in a vegetative state for a long time.
Living wills need to be talked about as a group.
At the very least, at least two people should read and understand Living Wills. They can look at the document again and look at the patient's past to decide if they want to help.
When they write Living Wills for their clients, lawyers often add to the problem. They shouldn't be making Living Wills unless they're working with a doctor who knows what they're doing.
