Living will: which statement is accurate?

Living will: which statement is accurate?

• A. A living will is a medical order directing clinicians to withhold care in all cases.
• B. A living will only applies to financial matters.
• C. A living will is a written directive about medical treatment desires when one cannot express informed consent.
• D. A living will immediately terminates upon hospitalization.

Answer: (C)

A living will is a written directive that captures your preferences for medical treatment in situations where you cannot express informed consent. It guides clinicians and surrogates about what kinds of interventions you want or don’t want, such as resuscitation, life-sustaining therapies, or artificial nutrition and hydration, in specific scenarios like terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It’s not a blanket instruction to withhold care in all cases, and it doesn’t deal with finances. It also doesn’t terminate simply because you’re hospitalized; the living will remains in effect unless you revoke it or your capacity changes. Often it’s part of a broader advance directive and may be paired with a healthcare proxy who can make decisions on your behalf when you cannot.

A living will is a written directive that captures your preferences for medical treatment in situations where you cannot express informed consent. It guides clinicians and surrogates about what kinds of interventions you want or don’t want, such as resuscitation, life-sustaining therapies, or artificial nutrition and hydration, in specific scenarios like terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It’s not a blanket instruction to withhold care in all cases, and it doesn’t deal with finances. It also doesn’t terminate simply because you’re hospitalized; the living will remains in effect unless you revoke it or your capacity changes. Often it’s part of a broader advance directive and may be paired with a healthcare proxy who can make decisions on your behalf when you cannot.