What is a ‘living will’?
I would like to know how a ‘Living Will’ is dealt with in France. What does one have to do, who do I contact and does a professional, such as a GP, have to sign it? My children are aware that I do not want to be resuscitated but so far nothing is in writing. U.C.
French law allows for people to make a ‘living will’ in order to clarify their wishes should they find themselves terminally ill and unable to express themselves.
This may concern such matters as limiting or stopping treatment if you are in a vegetative state, whether or not you would want to be transferred to intensive care to try to keep you alive at all costs, whether to use artificial respiration or undertake surgeries, or instead to have palliative care which may reduce suffering even if it has the effect of causing you to die sooner than otherwise.
Doctors will respect your wishes within certain exceptions, such as if doctors agree that they are manifestly inappropriate to the medical situation.
A living will is called directives anticipées and the document must be signed and dated, including your date and place of birth and full name (a procedure involving two witnesses is possible if you cannot write).
A template with suggestions for how to complete it can be found at goo.gl/cbiQDh. It is in two versions, the first for someone who is seriously ill and probably close to death, the second for people who are in good general health. If in doubt about the contents you might also like to discuss it with your GP.
Your living will may be lodged with him or her, or with your retirement home or the hospital if you are hospitalised. It can be changed at any time.
