A Health Care Directive, an Advance Directive, and a Living Will are the same thing, a document where you state your health care wishes if you are at end of life. The term “Living Will” is confusing as it bears no relationship to a Last Will and Testament. To avoid confusion, we will only use the term “Advance Directive.”
An Advance Directive refers to a legal document in which you specify in writing your wishes regarding your health care should you be at end of life or in a permanent vegetative condition and unable to communicate your wishes. It is critical that you make your health care wishes known through your Health Care Directive.
The Advance Directive is an important document that works with your Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions to empower your Attorney-in-Fact to confidently carry out your wishes.