Living Will
A document that states your wishes about medical treatment if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and cannot communicate. It addresses life-sustaining treatments like ventilators, feeding tubes, and resuscitation.
Legal Definition
A written advance directive in which a competent adult specifies the types of medical treatment they wish to receive or refuse in the event they become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and are unable to communicate their wishes.
Practical Example
In his living will, Frank states that if he is permanently unconscious with no chance of recovery, he does not want to be kept alive on a ventilator or feeding tube. His doctors must follow these instructions.