Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

How does it work
Vita.coop is a fully digital process that provides you with the ability to have your medical desires understood and followed immediately and anywhere in the world. The platform guides you through simple steps which will lead you to make specific treatment preference selections as well as elaborate on your thoughts and values to guide any additional choices that may need to be made on your behalf. Your vita.coop living will is shared electronically with your spokesperson (Hausarzt) —someone you choose to make medical treatment decisions for you when you are unable. Your vita.coop living will is delivered directly to your point of care when it has been requested by your treatment team.
How long does it take?

You can create vita.coop’s living will in as little as 15 minutes, from the comfort of your home. You do not need to visit a lawyer, doctor, notary, or printer. The advance directive becomes legally implementable upon electronic authentication of your digital signature.

What is required?

To create vita.coop’s living will you will need to provide identifying information and one email addresses for a spokesperson. All information is kept secure and is not shared with third parties. You do not need to visit a lawyer, doctor, notary, or printer. Medical terms and treatment options are explained in our community tool section.

Can I change my decisions?

Yes. You can update your living will as often as you like, at any time, from any location, without cost.

Can I change my spokesperson?

Yes. You can update any aspect of your living will, including your health proxy / spokesperson. You can make updates as often as you like, at any time, from any location, without any cost.

Can I create one for someone else?

Yes, but not without their consent and personal identifying information. Sitting down with a loved one and completing the process together is a great way to ensure creation of a document that will take control of their end of life health care.

How much does it cost?

It’s free for members. There are no hidden fees, and vita.coop’s living will does not require any of the costs associated with a lawyer, doctor, notary, or printer.

Is the living will by vita.coop a legal document?

Yes, vita.coop’s living will was designed by physicians to be comprehensive, simple to understand, and implementable, AND it was thoroughly vetted by our legal advisor for legality.

Legal Questions

Do I need to see a lawyer?

No. Upon completing all steps outlined within the vita.coop platform, you will have a legal, implementable electronic document. Clear explanation of medical terms is provided within the vita.coop community platform, enabling you to fully understand the decisions you are making without any additional legal or medical consultation.

Do I need to have it notarized?

No. After you create your living will with vita.coop, it is electronically signed with a legally binding electronic signature.

Will it work in every canton?
Yes. All cantons recognize living wills and durable power of attorney for health care by federal law.
Is the living will by vita.coop a legal document?

Yes, vita.coop’s living will was designed by physicians to be comprehensive, simple to understand, and implementable, AND it was thoroughly vetted for legality by our legal advisor.

Can my treatment team make decisions other than those indicated in my living will?

This is possible but not likely. vita.coop helps you create a document that is very specific about your treatment preferences and covers a comprehensive range of realistic treatment possibilities. If your medical situation falls beyond these guidelines, or if you decided to skip any of these choices, the values and beliefs section provides additional context that helps guide your spokesperson to make choices that would fit your wishes. Doctors who go against wishes clearly expressed in a living will risk liability.

What is the difference between Last will and testament or living trust?
  • A living will is NOT the same as a last will and testament or living trust.
  • A last will and testament is a legal document that specifies allocation of your property and possessions to designated beneficiaries following death.
  • Similarly, a living trust places your assets into a trust that can be accessed and used by you during your lifetime but is then transferred to designated beneficiaries upon death.
  • A living will, on the other hand, specifies decisions about end-of-life healthcare and treatment options prior to death.
What is the difference between a living will and a lasting power of attorney (LPA)?

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows the person making the LPA to give someone of their choice authority to make decisions on their behalf when they no longer have mental capacity to make the decisions themselves. 

A living will or patient decree set out what you want to happen to you should you not be able to make decisions regarding healthcare and medical treatment in certain situations.

Access Questions

How can my treatment team access my living will?

vita.coop’s living will is delivered directly to your point of care when it has been requested by your spokesperson.

What if I travel?

Your living will by vita.coop is always with you, electronically accessible at any time and from any location.

Is my information secure?

Yes. Your living will by vita.coop will be kept safe electronically on our secure platform encrypted with Blockchain Technology. Data will be delivered directly to your point of care when it has been requested by your treatment team. Vita.coop does not share your information with third parties.

ADDRESS
vita.coop Genossenschaft
(to be incorporated)
Via Maderno 24
CH-6900 Lugano