A living will, advance medical directive, healthcare proxy, and medical power of attorney are all different legal methods that allow you to make future medical decisions today. These methods come into effect if you are unable make your own medical decisions or wish to preplan your medical wishes while you are healthy. Even though these planning methods all give you control over your future medical care, there are differences amongst them in how your wishes are carried out.
A living will, which is synonymous with an advance medical directive, allows you to make medical decisions regarding life saving treatment that will go into effect if you become terminally ill or are unable to communicate your medical decisions. It is important to be as specific as possible with your wishes, because doctors, hospitals, and other medical institutions will need to read your instructions and act based on their interpretation of your wishes.
While medical professionals try their best to follow your wishes as laid out in your living will, having a healthcare proxy or assigning a medical power of attorney will give you someone to advocate your wishes. Having an advocate will increase the likelihood that your wishes are carried out. Having a healthcare proxy or assigning a medical power of attorney will also give your advocate the power to make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
It is important to be careful when choosing your advocate because of the important medical decisions they are entrusted to make. This person needs to be someone who understands your medical condition and wishes, who can handle the stress of making difficult medical decisions, and is able to maintain your best interests in their decision process.
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