Medlin & Medlin, PA
Attorney at Law
(704) 786-8173
Concord, NC 

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ESTATE PLANNING - END OF LIFE - MAYA ANGELOU NO LIVING WILL

Let me tell you something you might not know about the recently deceased poet, Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou was a gifted craftsman with words.

Unfortunately, she failed to let a legal craftsman (like me) make a living will for her.

When she died, her caregiver called 911 asking if she must perform CPR because Maya Angelou had clearly expressed a desire not to be resuscitated.

However, since her wishes were not spelled out in a living will, the 911 operator instructed the caregiver to perform CPR.

Maya Angelou’s end of life wishes were not honored because she lacked the proper legal work.

Many terminally ill people do not wish to prolong their family suffering.

Mistakenly, these people emotionally and sincerely tell their wishes to family members or caregivers and believe that oral instruction will be sufficient to have their wishes honored.

This is tragically wrong.

In the absence of proper legal documents, medical personnel will give life saving or life prolonging treatment to a patient, despite the objection of family members or caretakers who were orally instructed otherwise.

You need to be sure your end of life instructions are followed unlike the oral instructions given by Maya Angelou.

All too often, I am called to the hospital to prepare legal documents and find my client with tube inserted in many places, in a hospital gown, hair in disarray and no makeup on. That can’t be comfortable to have at your bedside at such a moment.

Call me early enough to make your end of life plan with dignity.

In nearly 40 years of law practice, I have prepared hundreds of end of life documents.

My job is to take care of my clients.

Call me.