If you have a Living Will your wishes should be followed. But according to one doctor we talked to Wednesday in Johnstown that's not always the case. There is no law in Pennsylvania that guarantees a health care provider will follow your instructions in every circumstance. But your doctor must tell you if they can't in good conscience follow your wishes or if hospital policy prevents them from doing so. They must also transfer you to a health care provider that can. If you do have a Living Will give a copy to your doctor and family. If you don't have a Living Will Doctor Mark Allen Mazer, the Director of Medical Critical Care at Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown suggests, "rest assured that we spend as much time as necessary to understand the person who were treating and to come up with a treatment plan who he or she would want for themselves."

If you do have a Living Will and you're pregnant Pennsylvania Law will not honor it in many cases because of the baby. But the state must pay for medical expenses.

Lawyers in our area are busy with people wanting a Living Will now. They are easy to get. If you want one and you have a computer with the internet you're in luck. There are many sights where you can get one for a cost. For instance, Channel 6 News went to www.legacywriter.com. First you fill in your information including name and address. You're asked what medical attention you would want in numerous situations such as tube feeding, cardiac resuscitation, or surgery among others. Click on your wishes and continue. You'll be asked a few more questions regarding care and more personal information. From there you buy your Living Will. On this website it costs roughly $20. For more websites, go to the As Mentioned Link on this website.

When you have a Living Will you and 2 witnesses must sign it. But it's only in effect if your doctor has a copy.