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An EEG, or electroencephalography, is a method to measure electrical activity in the brain by placing electrodes on the scalp. It measures any electrical activity in the cerebral cortex, the area of the brain which encompasses each of the four lobes – frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital. In a living, functional brain, neurons are constantly firing, using neurotransmitters to send messages from one neuron to the other, jumping the gap, or synapse, in between. In the case of a severe brain injury, or a coma, your electrical activity is all but absent. While people can recover from this state, specifically younger children, unfortunately there is also the possibility that the brain is never active again, known as brain death for the legally dead, and permanent coma or persistent vegetative state for the unconscious and unaware, such as Terri Schiavo.
Today's life support systems can keep a person's body alive for years, even once the brain stops functioning or if the individual is in constant pain. While most people establish a Last Will and Testament to handle property once they die, a South Dakota living will is a document which simply indicates whether or not you would like to be kept on artificial life support.
Take control of these difficult decisions in advance. Indicate any special wishes or instructions and rest assured that if you change your mind, a South Dakota living will may be cancelled or revoked at any time. LegalZoom can help you take control of health care decisions quickly and easily. Prepare your customized South Dakota living will online, today.
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