Living Will

Living Will

A legal document that sets out the medical care an individual, or the principal, wants or does not want in the event that they become incapable of doing it themselves.

Notes:

A living will is used by people whose wishes will be met should they reach a point when they are no longer able to make the decisions for themselves. For example, if a person obtained life-threatening injuries, or was incapacitated as a result of some terminal illness, the decisions about their health care will be theirs as long as they have a living will. Without one the decision becomes the responsibility of spouses, family members or other third parties.

See also: Power of Attorney, Principal, Will

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Living will

A document specifying the kind of medical care a person wants-or does not want-in the event of terminal illness or incapacity.