The why and what of the living will
Living wills and other advance directives are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Advance directives guide choices for doctors and caregivers if you're terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life.
Advance directives aren't just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it's important for all adults to prepare these documents.
By planning ahead, you ensure you get the medical care you wish for and avoid unnecessary suffering. Besides you relieve caregivers of decision-making burdens during moments of crisis or grief. You also help reduce confusion or disagreement about the choices you would want people to make on your behalf. In addition, your next of kin might not live here or speak Spanish, a living will in the Spanish language can be extremely practical in such situations.
Living will in Spain
In some countries a simple note written beforehand or a living will registered at a notary is legally binding. In Spain there is only one way to make sure your wishes are respected. As long as medical wishes are not registered with the government, they are not considered legally binding.
What happens if I don't have a living will?
You can of course put down on paper what you do and don't want in the last phase of your life and keep it in an safe place for family or friends to find it. If you are no longer able to communicate yourself, they are the ones who make the clinical decisions in consultation with the medical staff.
Keep in mind that things that you put on paper yourself and that are not registered with the government are not legally binding. Doctors and your family members have no obligation whatsoever to follow up on these wishes.
I already have a Spanish donor card
According to the law, the fact that you carry a card which indicates you would like to be a donor is only an expression of your wishes. Under Spanish law, everyone is a donor unless explicitly stated otherwise in the living will. If you decide whether or not you want to be a donor, the living will is the only way in which you can legally record this. If nothing has been registered, the next of kin will be asked to make the decision.
Click here to read an informative article about donors and transplants
While I am at it, I'd like to organize other things as well, what's the best way?
Maybe you have your administration so well-organized that someone only has to open the folders and finds everything there is to take care off in case you're no longer able to do so yourself.
But then again, maybe you are someone who has always thrown all official papers in a drawer and shut it quickly again. Maybe you get desperate even thinking about organizing stuff, don't worry because I can help you with that. A well-arranged administration is pleasant, for you and for your next of kin.
It is useful to prepare a document with the details of people to be contacted, which insurance policies there are, the numbers of bank accounts and direct debits, but also all accounts on social media, web shops, email addresses and all those things that will have to be closed down after you've gone. This process will take some time, but is often a good reason to have a thorough clean-up.
After the registration of your living will, you will receive a document from me that you can use as a guideline.
What's the procedure for registering your living will?
- Get in touch to make an appointment at a place of your choice
- Before the appointment, you will receive a list of topics that form part of the living will so you can already meditate on them
- After we have completed the forms together and all your questions have been answered, I will make an appointment at the registration office. If you are not registered with the Servicio Andaluz de Salud, I will request a special number for this.
- On the agreed day, we will go to the registration office together to register your medical will.
- You will receive an overview in English of the choices you have made and a list of practical administrative matters to complete yourself so that relatives have a handy overview.
What are the costs?
The costst for help with the translation and the completion and subsequent registration of the forms is €350 (excluding IVA)
Would you rather have the first (video) call via Skype or Whatsapp? This saves travel time, the price is then €275 (excluding IVA).
Foto header: Tarangire National Park Tanzania