South Carolina Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death

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Commonly called a Living Will, the South Carolina Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death (DND) is the next and last basic document in the estate planning toolkit.  Much like the Health Care Power of Attorney, the Declarant puts their wishes regarding care and treatment into a formal document.  The DND is, however, only for end-of-life situations, whereas the Health Care Power of Attorney is for all other medical situations where the Principal may not be able to make their own decisions. 

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In a situation where the Declarant is suffering from a terminal condition and will die (as certified by two physicians) in a reasonably short period of time, the Declarant can state whether they want nutrition and hydration to be provided, or not.  In a situation where the Declarant is in a permanent state of unconsciousness or is vegetative, the Declarant can likewise declare whether nutrition and hydration be provided.  The DND is designed to declare refusal to medical services so the Declarant does not unnecessarily prolong their death.  

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