(401) 307-5556It’s easy to get confused about Living Wills and “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) orders. Many people worry both of these documents mean hospitals won’t help you if you need it. But that’s not the case at all!
In Rhode Island, the Living Will and the DNR are two separate documents with two distinct purposes. Both only come into play when your medical team has done everything they can, and there’s nothing more they can do to cure a serious illness. But the Living Will covers what supportive care you want at the end of your life, whereas the DNR is a specific directive not to intervene if you go into cardiac arrest (but only if and when your condition is determined to be terminal).
Your Living Will: Guiding Your End-of-Life Care
Think of a Living Will as your voice for the future, especially if you can’t speak for yourself. Under Rhode Island law, it’s a legal document that tells your doctors and nurses what kind of support and care you want (or don’t want) at the very end of your life. This document becomes super important if your medical team determines that your condition is terminal, which usually means having six months or less to live.
At that point, your Living Will lets you clearly state your preferences about different kinds of supportive care. This can include things like:
Continuing treatment for specific diseases like cancer, if aggressive treatments are no longer helping to cure you.
Whether you’d like to use a respirator to help you breathe.
Decisions about dialysis for kidney problems.
If you want antibiotics for infections, especially if they might just prolong discomfort rather than truly help.
Whether you want a feeding tube for nutrition and hydration.
Your Living Will gives you the power to make these crucial decisions ahead of time, ensuring your wishes are honored, even if you’re not able to communicate them in the moment.
A “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) Order: A Clear Directive for Your Heart
A “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) order is a bit different. It’s a specific medical instruction signed by your doctor. This order is created when you’re already in hospice or in a healthcare facility, and is typically posted in the patient’s room, so nurses know not to resuscitate and to let nature take its course.
It tells emergency responders and healthcare providers not to perform CPR if your heart stops or if you stop breathing. Unlike a Living Will, which covers a wider range of end-of-life choices, a DNR is focused on just resuscitation.
When These Directives Take Center Stage: The Role of Hospice
Both your Living Will and a DNR become especially important if you transition into hospice care. Hospice is all about providing comfort and support to individuals with a terminal illness, focusing on quality of life rather than trying to cure the illness. When you begin hospice, these documents are carefully reviewed to make sure the care you receive perfectly matches your end-of-life wishes.
In hospice, the main focus shifts to managing pain and symptoms, and offering emotional and spiritual support for both you and your loved ones. Because of this, many of the more aggressive supportive care measures you might list in a Living Will, such as ventilators, dialysis, and feeding tubes, are usually no longer used. The goal is to ensure your comfort and dignity in the final stages of life, rather than extending life through artificial means. Similarly, a DNR ensures that if your heart stops, the natural process of death is allowed to unfold without medical intervention.
Medical Directives: A Vital Part of Your Full Estate Plan
Your Living Will ensures your wishes are clear for many situations, while a DNR gives immediate medical guidance in an emergency. Together, these documents are super important pieces of your complete estate plan. They give you greater control over your healthcare decisions and offer peace of mind to your family, knowing your preferences for end-of-life care are clearly laid out as part of your overall legacy planning.
