A Living Will allows you to indicate your wishes concerning the withdrawal or withholding of life-sustaining procedures if you are in a terminal condition with no hope of recovery or are permanently unconscious. In a Health Care Power of Attorney you may designate another person (your "Agent") to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make such decisions yourself sometime in the future. In an Advance Directive, you can combine features of a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney. It is the most comprehensive of the three choices and allows you to state your wishes about end-of-life treatment and also designate someone to make health care decisions for you. All health care documents may be affected by state-specific laws. If you have specific legal questions, it is recommended that you contact an attorney who is familiar with your state statutes. |