What is a Living Will designed to do?

A Living Will is designed specifically to communicate an individual's wishes regarding life support measures and other forms of medical treatment in the event that they become unable to express those wishes themselves. This legal document helps ensure that a person's preferences regarding end-of-life care, such as the use of ventilators or feeding tubes, are known and respected by healthcare providers and family members.

By providing clear instructions on what life-sustaining treatments an individual would or would not want, a Living Will serves to guide medical decisions during critical moments when a person’s capacity to make decisions is compromised. It reflects personal beliefs and values, allowing individuals to maintain control over their healthcare choices even in serious or terminal situations, fostering peace of mind for both the patient and their loved ones.

The other options pertain to different aspects of healthcare decision-making. Financial decisions regarding healthcare typically would not be addressed in a Living Will, as those are more related to advance directives involving power of attorney. Transferring healthcare powers to another individual is accomplished through a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney, which specifically designates someone to make medical decisions on one's behalf. Similarly, while insurance requirements might affect care logistics, they are not a focus of a Living Will, which is solely about medical treatment preferences