The COVID-19 pandemic has gotten many Americans to sit down and reflect seriously about their own mortality.
As of Monday, nearly 3.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Nearly 141,000 have died from it.
According to UPI, a new study says such reflection has led to a five-fold increase in people looking to complete advance healthcare directives online.
The findings are based on analysis of traffic on the website OurCareWishes.org, which offers users free guidance on creating a 'living will.'
A living will is a legal document that outlines healthcare preferences in the event of an emergency.
Study co-author Dr. Catherine Auriemma says it's understandable that people would want to get their wishes in writing.
The reality of COVID-19 is an unprecedented number of deaths, striking rates of critical illness, and persistent symptoms and morbidity in survivors.
Dr. Catherine Auriemma, Study Co-Author Fellow, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
