Living Will

A Living Will is a legal document that outlines a person’s preferences for medical treatment in situations where they are unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. This document typically specifies the types of medical interventions the individual does or does not want, such as life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation efforts, and pain management Options.

For instance, if a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness and wishes to refuse life support if they enter a vegetative state, they can detail this preference in their Living Will. Another example could be a situation where an individual specifies they do not want to be kept alive through artificial means if they are suffering from an incurable condition.

In a case where a patient is in a coma following an accident and has a Living Will stating they do not wish to receive life support, medical professionals would follow these instructions, thus respecting the individual’s autonomy and wishes.

Conversely, if a Living Will is absent, family members may face difficulties in making decisions that align with the individual’s preferences, potentially leading to disagreements or emotional distress.