living will

An advance medical directive, also known as a living will, is a legal document that allows a competent individual to explicitly state their preferences for future medical care and life-sustaining interventions in the event they lose decision-making capacity due to terminal illness, severe trauma, or irreversible cognitive decline.

Advance directives are initiated proactively by competent individuals to prepare for future medical vulnerabilities. Key factors and triggers prompting the creation of a living will include:

• Advancing age and natural concerns over end-of-life care pathways.
• Diagnosis of progressive, chronic, or terminal medical conditions.
• Previous personal or family experiences involving complex intensive care decision-making.
• Direct encouragement during routine clinical encounters and advance care planning discussions with healthcare providers.