How does a living will differ from a durable power of attorney?

A living will and a durable power of attorney are both important legal documents that address a person's medical and end-of-life preferences, but they serve different purposes. Learn the key differences between the two to help you make informed decisions about your healthcare preferences.

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How does a living will differ from a durable power of attorney?

Both a living will and a durable power of attorney are advance directives that allow individuals to outline their healthcare preferences in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes. However, there are key differences between the two documents:

Living Will

A living will is a legal document that details a person's medical preferences regarding end-of-life care. It typically outlines the individual's wishes for life-sustaining treatments such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and tube feeding. A living will only goes into effect when the individual is unable to make medical decisions on their own due to incapacitation.

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney for healthcare is a legal document that designates a trusted individual to make medical decisions on behalf of the person if they are unable to do so themselves. This appointed person, known as a healthcare proxy or agent, has the authority to make healthcare decisions based on the individual's wishes as outlined in the document.

In summary, while a living will specifies the medical treatments a person desires in specific situations, a durable power of attorney grants decision-making authority to a designated individual to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the person. Both documents are important for ensuring that an individual's healthcare preferences are respected and followed. It is advisable to have both documents in place to cover all aspects of healthcare decision-making.

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Béatrice
4 Ques 1 Ans
answered 12 Sep 2024

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