Skip to main content

Living will

A living will, also called a declaration, is a type of advance directive. It documents your wishes about end-of-life medical treatment in case you lose your ability to make decisions or communicate. A living will lists the conditions under which you would want or not want certain kinds of treatment or life-support measures.

You can change or cancel a living will at any time. And it will not take effect unless you are no longer able to make or communicate decisions. Copies of your living will should be given to and discussed with your health professional and family members.

A living will may be called something else in your state.

Current as of: November 16, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

 
 

PeaceHealth endeavors to provide comprehensive health care information, however some topics in this database describe services and procedures not offered by our providers or within our facilities because they do not comply with, nor are they condoned by, the ethics policies of our organization.