What is the difference between advance directive and living will?
An advance directive and a living will are both legal documents that allow individuals to outline their healthcare preferences in the event they become unable to communicate their wishes. While they serve a similar purpose, there are some key differences between the two.
What are the types of difference between advance directive and living will?
The main types of differences between an advance directive and a living will are as follows:
Legal nature: An advance directive is a broader term that encompasses various documents, including a living will. A living will, on the other hand, specifically focuses on medical treatment preferences.
Specificity: While an advance directive allows individuals to provide comprehensive instructions on healthcare decisions, a living will typically focuses solely on end-of-life care and decisions related to life-sustaining treatments.
Personalization: Advance directives often provide more flexibility for individuals to tailor their healthcare preferences to their unique situation, whereas living wills tend to have more standardized language.
Applicability: An advance directive remains in effect even if the individual becomes incapacitated, while a living will usually only come into effect if the person is in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious state.
How to complete the difference between advance directive and living will
To complete the difference between an advance directive and a living will, follow these steps:
01
Research and familiarize yourself with the laws and requirements in your jurisdiction regarding advance directives and living wills.
02
Decide the type of document you want to create based on your specific healthcare wishes and preferences.
03
Use a reliable online platform, such as pdfFiller, to create, edit, and share your advance directive or living will.
04
Clearly articulate your healthcare preferences, including the types of treatments you do or do not want, in your document.
05
Consider appointing a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney to make decisions on your behalf in case you are unable to do so.
06
Review your document carefully to ensure it accurately reflects your wishes and is legally valid in your jurisdiction.
07
Share copies of your advance directive or living will with your healthcare providers, family members, and any individuals involved in your future healthcare decisions.
08
Regularly review and update your advance directive or living will as your wishes or circumstances change.
pdfFiller empowers users to create, edit, and share documents online, including advance directives and living wills. With unlimited fillable templates and powerful editing tools, pdfFiller is the only PDF editor users need to easily complete their documents and ensure their healthcare preferences are accurately documented.