Understanding Living Wills and Advance Directives

What is a Living Will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment in the event that you become unable to communicate your wishes. This may include decisions regarding:

• Life-sustaining treatments: Whether or not you want to receive resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or feeding tubes.
• Pain management: Your preferences for pain relief even if it may hasten your death.

Example of a Living Will

Scenario: You are diagnosed with a terminal illness and become incapacitated.

• Your living will states: “I do not wish to receive mechanical ventilation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if my heart stops. I prefer to receive palliative care to manage pain and discomfort.”

What is an Advance Directive?

An advance directive is a broader term that encompasses various legal documents that allow you to communicate your healthcare preferences. It may include a living will, but can also appoint a healthcare proxy, who can make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

Example of an Advance Directive

Scenario: You want to ensure that someone you trust can make healthcare decisions for you if you can’t speak for yourself.

• Your advance directive includes the following:
  • Living Will Section: “In the event of terminal illness, I do not wish to receive life-sustaining treatments.”
  • Healthcare Proxy Section: “I appoint my spouse, John Doe, as my healthcare agent to make decisions on my behalf if I am unable to do so.”

Key Differences

Conclusion

In summary, while both living wills and advance directives serve to communicate your healthcare wishes, they fulfill different roles. A living will focuses specifically on treatment preferences, while an advance directive can include a living will and appoint someone to make decisions for you. Understanding these differences can help you make informed choices about your healthcare planning.