- end of life is a delicate subject that often raises complex and painful questions. However, taking the time to think about what you want at the end of your life, and how you want it to turn out, is a very important step. put your last wishes in writing can be essential in ensuring that our loved ones and medical teams respect our choices. In this article, we offer you advice and ideas to help you draw up your last will and testament.
Writing a sample letter to express your wishes
To begin with, it's a good idea to create a document containing all useful information about your wishes. You can take your inspiration from the classic letter format by indicating :
- Your contact details (surname, first name, date and place of birth),
- The date of writing,
- A clear object such as "Last will and testament"or "Advance directives“,
- The detailed content of your end-of-life wishes.
Remember to clearly state your wishes regarding medical care, treatment and palliative care, as well as more personal aspects such as funeral arrangements and the distribution of your assets.
And don't forget toadd this document to your Legapass account to avoid losing it and make sure your wishes are respected. You can also fill in our free form directly on your Legapass account.
Explicitly expressing your advance directives
Advance directives make it possible to formalize your wishes in writing concerning medical decisions at the end of life. To ensure that they are easily understood and respected, it is important that they are written clearly and explicitly.
Don't hesitate to provide specific, concrete examples to illustrate your points. For example, if you refuse to be medically relentless, say so in black and white. :
"I do not wish to be kept alive artificially in an irreversible vegetative state or when medicine deems my condition incurable."
What is the central directive file and what is its role?
There is a central file to which healthcare professionals can have access to consult your last wishes. The aim of this system is to make it easier to respect a patient's wishes by providing a document that can be consulted quickly if necessary.
Who can query the central file?
- Attending physicians
- Hospital medical staff
- Emergency medical service (SAMU)
How do you send your instructions to the central file?
The healthcare professional responsible for the patient's care is obliged to check whether the patient has advance directives in the central file. To ensure that your wishes are recorded in this file, you must write them using a pre-established templatedate and sign them, and send them to your doctor. You can update or replace them at any time by following the same procedure.
The importance of advance directives for palliative care
Advance directives play a crucial role in palliative care because they enable medical staff to know the patient's wishes in terms of treatment and end-of-life arrangements. They help preserve the patient's quality of life and dignity when they are no longer able to express themselves.
You should therefore include in these directives all the aspects that you feel are essential to respecting your wishes. For example:
- Pain management (preferred type of treatment)
- Your choice of care facility (home hospitalization, hospice, etc.)
- - limiting invasive treatments or aggressive
- Your spiritual or religious wishes
Discussing your last wishes with your loved ones
Although this is not a legal requirement, we strongly recommend that you discuss your wishes with your loved ones. Informing them not only avoids any future disputes, but also gives them time to prepare themselves to respect your choices. It also strengthens the bond of trust between you, helping your loved ones to better understand the reasons why you have made these decisions.
Respecting the wishes of the deceased: letter and organ donation
Many people choose to leave a letter for their loved ones in which they express their end-of-life wishes.
This letter can cover a wide range of topics, including :
- Funerals (religious rites, burial or cremation),
- Distribution of assets and wealth,
- Raising children,
- Organ donation.
-> As far as organ donation is concerned, there is a national register of refusals enabling people to formally oppose organ removal after their death. To exercise this choice, you must register on this file.
As well as respecting your personal wishes, it's essential to remain attentive to the needs and expectations of those around you. Last wishes are there to make things easier, but also to provide support and comfort to those who remain.. By planning ahead, the grieving process can be more peaceful for your family.
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