Which statement accurately describes a living will?

Which statement accurately describes a living will?

• A. It is a physician order.
• B. It is a verbal directive to family.
• C. It is a general guideline for all decisions.
• D. It is a written statement detailing desires regarding medical treatment in circumstances where they are no longer able to express informed consent.

Answer: (D)

A living will is a written directive that states what medical treatments a person wants or does not want if they become unable to communicate or make decisions. It’s part of advance care planning and focuses on preferences for end-of-life care, such as whether to pursue resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, artificial feeding, dialysis, or comfort-focused measures. It activates only when the patient lacks decision-making capacity, ensuring their wishes guide care even when they can’t express them. It’s not a physician order and doesn’t automatically dictate every decision in real time. For bedside action, many patients also use a health care proxy or forms like a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment to translate these written preferences into concrete orders. A living will can be revised or revoked anytime the person remains capable.

A living will is a written directive that states what medical treatments a person wants or does not want if they become unable to communicate or make decisions. It’s part of advance care planning and focuses on preferences for end-of-life care, such as whether to pursue resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, artificial feeding, dialysis, or comfort-focused measures. It activates only when the patient lacks decision-making capacity, ensuring their wishes guide care even when they can’t express them.

It’s not a physician order and doesn’t automatically dictate every decision in real time. For bedside action, many patients also use a health care proxy or forms like a physician orders for life-sustaining treatment to translate these written preferences into concrete orders. A living will can be revised or revoked anytime the person remains capable.