What does a living will specify?

A living will is a legal document that outlines an individual's preferences and wishes regarding medical treatment and interventions in scenarios where they may be unable to communicate their decisions due to illness or incapacity. This includes specific instructions about life support measures, resuscitation efforts, and other types of medical treatment that the person may or may not want to receive. By specifying these wishes, a living will helps ensure that healthcare providers and family members respect the individual's autonomy and feelings about their end-of-life care.

This choice accurately reflects the primary purpose of a living will, which is to provide clear direction regarding the person's treatment preferences. The designated health care proxy mentioned in another option pertains to a different document, known as a durable power of attorney for health care, and does not encapsulate the specific directives typically found in a living will. Similarly, while organ donation may be addressed in separate documents or discussions, it is not a primary focus of a living will. Lastly, pain management methods might be discussed in the context of treatment preferences, but a living will primarily centers on life-sustaining treatments rather than specific pain management strategies.