Living will
Living will
A Living will, also known as an advance directive, advance healthcare directive, or advance medical directive, is a legal document that provides instructions about future medical care in case a person becomes unable to communicate their decisions due to illness or incapacity.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The term "living will" is often used to refer to a document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. The living will is one form of advance directive, leaving instructions for treatment. Another form is a specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy, in which the person authorizes someone (an agent) to make decisions on their behalf when they are incapacitated.
Legal status[edit | edit source]
The legal status of living wills varies widely between jurisdictions. In some countries, such as the United States, living wills are legally binding and will be followed by healthcare providers under certain circumstances. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, living wills are not legally binding but are usually respected by healthcare providers.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
