Advance health directive - Definition

A Living Will, also called Will to Live, Advance Health Directive, or Advance Health Care Directive, is a specific type of power of attorney or health care proxy or advance directive. It is a legal instrument that usually is witnessed or notarized. These documents state:

• That the principal is appointing an individual to direct their health care decisions should the principal be unable to do so (e.g. called "Power of Attorney for Health Care"), or
• Specific directives as to the course of treatment that is to be taken by caregivers, or, in particular, in some cases forbidding treatment and sometimes also nutrition and water, should the principal be unable to give informed consent ("Individual Health Care Instruction") due incapacity.

As the name suggests, the Will to Live tends to emphasize the wish to live as long as possible rather than refusing treatment in the case of serious conditions.

In the Netherlands, patients and potential patients can specify the circumstances under which they would want euthanasia for themselves. They do this by providing a written Euthanasia Directive. This helps establish the previously expressed wish of the patient even if the patient is no longer able to communicate. However, it is only one of the factors that is taken into account.

See also Uniform Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (U.S.), Do Not Resuscitate.

External links

• End of Life Choices (http://endoflifechoices.org/)
• Will to Live forms for each state (http://www.nrlc.org/euthanasia/willtolive/StatesList.html)
• U.S. Living Will & Advance Directive Registry (http://www.uslivingwillregistry.com/)
• Advance Health Directive in Queensland (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/guardian/poa/ahdfact.htm)