What is the purpose of a living will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines a person’s preferences for medical treatment in situations where they may not be able to communicate their wishes due to incapacitation or severe illness. The primary focus of a living will is to inform healthcare providers and family members about the individual's desires concerning specific medical interventions, such as resuscitation efforts, intubation, or other life-sustaining treatments, when they are unable to express their decisions themselves.

The context of patient care preferences is crucial, as it empowers individuals to maintain a level of control over their healthcare choices even when they are not in a position to articulate those choices verbally. This aligns with the concept of respecting a patient's autonomy and ensuring that their values and wishes are honored in critical situations.

Understanding this, while options regarding organ donation, documenting medical history, and creating a power of attorney are important aspects of healthcare planning, they serve different functions. Organ donation pertains specifically to the use of one’s organs after death, medical history documentation is focused on past health information, and power of attorney involves designating someone to make decisions on behalf of an individual, which is separate from the specific treatment preferences outlined in a living will.