Is it standard for heart doctors to ask if you have a will on your first visit?

Question

I figure it is. But the way it was done yesterday was rather upsetting now that i think about it more.

I went to the Nuclear heart Center yesterday because my General practioner sent me there because for the last two months I have had chest pain.

During the exam he was very fast with questions. Some were hard to answer. That seemed to upset him he was in a hurryHe was behind schedule I knew... He was listening to my heart from different angles and then asked me if I had a living will. I said no. He marked it down. Then said I want to do some test next week.

It did not dawn on me what he had asked till 8pm last night. So now I am wondering if I have more to fear. There testing for a blood clot, lung cancer, and doing a stress test proceeding a EKG.

My question is is it standard to ask about a Living will? And if so why has my general doctor not asked?

Thanx in advance confused and scared.

Answer 1

A living will is a special will that makes your desires known about resuscitation efforts, etc in the event that any of these things ever need to be employed. If this doctor did not ask and at some unforeseen point in the future, he/she had to perform these procedures - and you DID have strong desires in one way or another - it sure would nice to have had it posted in your medical chart.

I can imagine how this might have alarmed you, but I suspect this is completely routine with this physician in his effort to be complete. Every first time patient is asked this question, every time, that way it becomes routine and you don't forget to ask. Most physicians do not speak is such veiled language...if he/she thought your condition was grave, then he/she would have said so. So try to relax and chalk it up to the doc being busy and trying to be thorough too. Good luck.

Answer 2

It may be a general question that THIS doctor does ask. It may be that your doctor wants everyone with problems that he treats, to have a written will while they are still considered well enough to make decisions that are clear and not decisions that could be argued about, with someone saying, "She wasn't in her right mind at the time"...........this happens. I think we should all have wills written, and you can buy a simple will to write yours on the computer. I did, and I feel very good about it.

Answer 3

I can't say that all doctors do, but if they don't, they should. Especially regarding healthcare power of attorney. I can imagine that this would be very scary for you, and I'm terribly sorry for that. I think it might be helpful to call the cardiologist's nurse and ask her/him to explain what it meant and let them know you are scared. They will understand, and I'm sure at a cardiologist's office, they expect it. As far as your GP, I'm not sure why he/she wouldn't ask. Maybe he/she thinks that if you had certain wishes that it would be given to him/her automatically? Best of luck (hugs)

Answer 4

A living will is commonly asked about on admission to the hospital, and probably in your institution when one is admitted for outpatient testing. This in no way implies that you are going to die. And a "living will" isn't quite the same as asking if you have "a will."

Answer 5

it's a standard question now a days since living wills let medical professionals know what your wishes would be regarding resuscitation and who would make medical decisions for you if you were not able to...they probably want to have a copy of it in your records with them for reference if needed

Answer 6

Don't be alarmed, it's the fashionable thing to do these days! Everytime you go to the doctors or a hospital they will ask you all those questions!