December 18, 2014 Commonly held myths about end-of-life issues Some people don't have a health care power of attorney or living will because they don't realize how important these documents are. Others worry that such documents mean they are signing their lives away. Not so. These powerful documents make sure that you get the treatment you would want for yourself if you couldn't communicate your wishes. Here are a few myths that shouldn't get in the way of creating a health care power of attorney or living will: Myth: More care is always better. Truth: Not necessarily. Sometimes more care prolongs the dying process without respect for quality of life or comfort. It's important to know what interventions are truly important. It's often impossible to know that in advance. That's where the advice of a health care team is invaluable. Get your copy of Living Wills Living wills and health care proxies — documents known as advance care directives — give you a voice in decisions about your medical care at the end of life. Without these documents, choices may be left up to a doctor or a judge — someone who does not know your values, beliefs, or preferences. This Special Health Report, Living Wills: A guide to advance directives, health care power of attorney, and other key documents, will help you plan ahead and create legal documents to guide decision makers at this important time. Myth: Refusing life support invalidates your life insurance, because you are committing suicide. Truth: Refusing life support does not mean that you are committing suicide. Instead, the underlying medical problem is considered to be the cause of death. Myth: If medical treatment is started, it cannot be stopped. Truth: Not starting a medical treatment and stopping a treatment are the same in the eyes of the law. So you or your health care agent can approve a treatment for a trial period that you think may be helpful without fear that you can’t change your mind later. However, be aware that stopping treatment can be more emotionally difficult than not starting it in the first place. Myth: If you refuse life-extending treatments, you’re refusing all treatments. Truth: No matter what treatments you refuse, you should still expect to receive any other care you need or want — especially the pain and symptom management sometimes called intensive comfort care. Myth: Stopping or refusing artificial nutrition and hydration causes pain for someone who is dying. Truth: Unlike keeping food or water from a healthy person, for someone who is dying, declining artificial nutrition or intravenous hydration does not cause pain. For more on setting goals for end-of-life care and avoiding common pitfalls, buy Living Wills: A guide to advance directives, the health care power of attorney, and other key documents, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: News and Views from the Harvard Health Blog Feeling young at heart may help you live longer A new study found that people who felt three or more years younger than their actual age were more likely to be alive eight years later than those who felt more than one year older than their actual age. How might "feeling younger" help? What is a living will? The term “living will” can be confusing. Simply put, a living will is a legally binding document that allows you to express your preferences for medical treatment under certain circumstances. For example, you can set out how aggressive you’d like your care to be as the end of life nears. This written record guides your doctors and loved ones in caring for you, should you ever be unable to communicate your wishes directly. Be aware that in many states, living wills are invalid during pregnancy. If you want your wishes honored whether or not you’re pregnant, be sure to put that in your living will. Doing so won’t guarantee that your wishes are followed, but it will improve the chances. Laws governing what information should go into a living will also vary by state. It is also important to discuss your feelings with your doctors. These conversations, along with documents like a Health Decisions Worksheet, can help guide your family and doctors in many situations. For more on setting goals for end-of-life care and taking control of your medical care, buyLiving Wills: A guide to advance directives, the health care power of attorney, and other key documents, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Featured in this issue Living Wills Featured content: • What are advance directives? • Step One: Deciding on your wishes for care • Step Two: Choosing a health care agent • Step Three: Creating your advance directives • Troubleshooting: Pitfalls, fixes, and tips for tough conversations •  ... and more! Click here to read more »