What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that instructs medical professionals on how to handle a person’s medical decisions in the event that they become unable to make the decisions themselves. This document is sometimes referred to as an “advance health care directive” or a “medical directive”. In Virginia, this document is authorized by the Advance Directives Act. Living wills are used to specify a person’s wishes for medical treatments in the event that they are physically or mentally incapacitated and unable to make those decisions themselves. They can indicate whether the person wishes to receive life-saving treatments, pain medications, or other forms of medical attention. A living will can also be used to express the person’s wishes regarding the donation of their organs or other forms of medical research with their body after death. Living wills are considered an important part of elder law, as they help ensure that a person’s wishes are respected and that their final wishes are carried out in accordance with their wishes. By having a clear and precise living will, the elderly and their families can have peace of mind that their wishes will be followed in the event that they become unable to make decisions for themselves.

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What is a living will?

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