What is a living will?

• A. A document in which a person states his or her wishes about life support and other treatments
• B. A will distributing property after death
• C. A document listing allergies
• D. A medical record

Answer: (A)

A living will is a document that states what medical treatments you want or don’t want if you’re unable to communicate them yourself. It focuses on end-of-life care and life-sustaining measures, guiding decisions when you can’t speak for yourself. This makes your preferences clear to clinicians and family, helping to prevent unwanted interventions and reduce confusion in stressful moments. For example, it might specify whether you want CPR, mechanical ventilation, or feeding tubes in certain situations. It’s not the same as a will that distributes property after death, which is about assets rather than medical care. It’s also not a list of allergies or a general medical record, which document health information rather than your treatment choices. If you have a living will, consider also designating a health care proxy to make decisions if needed, but the living will remains the primary way to express treatment preferences.