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In a Living Will, declarants
may choose whether they want ALL possible medical intervention, or LIMITS
on treatment when they become incapacitated. Living wills enable people
to make their own decisions, and ensure that others are aware of these
decisions.
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| The Living
Wills Registry (Canada) is unique in this country:
The Registry, was established by Dr David Williams, a Stratford family physician, and his wife Maureen in 1992. The Registry's mandate is to assist people in directing their own medical treatment in the event of incapacitating illnesses or injuries. |
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Each subscriber may designate a "proxy" who can make decisions to ensure that the person's wishes are observed. This covers most unforseen circumstances. Living Wills are used DURING LIFE and may be modified, by the declarant, whenever circumstances change; Living wills are therefore "living" documents. |
To date, there has been broad interest in the Registry. Interest has been expressed by the seriously ill who want to make their wishes known before they may become incapable of communicating, and those who have had to make difficult decisions for others and now want to protect their family members from similar anguish. |
| The Living
Wills Registry will attempt keep up to date with legislative changes and
it will modify its documents accordingly.
The Registry will help promote documentation standards. |
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