living will
End-of-life document
A living will is a legal document specifying what medical treatments a person wants or doesn't want if they become unable to communicate their wishes—typically regarding life support, resuscitation, or other end-of-life care.
Unlike a standard will, which distributes property after death, a living will speaks while the person is still alive but incapacitated: Her living will requested no extraordinary measures.
Nearing death phase
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- deathCessation of life
- dyingCeasing to live
- last daysConcluding time span
prognosis · decline · inevitable · preparation · acceptance · legacy · peace · closure
End-of-life medical directive
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- resuscitationRestoring vital functions
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
hospice · comfort care · hydration · feeding tube · CPR · mechanical ventilation · dialysis · intubation
Documented future healthcare preferences
- healthcare proxyAppointed medical decision-maker
- power of attorneyLegal authority for another's decisions
- estate planningPreparing asset distribution posthumously
- notarizedOfficially certified authentic
legal counsel · executor · probate · guardianship · testator · witnessed · surrogate · fiduciary
Moral philosophy for medicine
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- medical ethicsHealthcare moral principles
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- euthanasiaDeliberate death for relief
dignity · quality of life · moral agency · sanctity of life · patient advocacy · ethical dilemma · withdrawal of care · compassion
Control over one's fate
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- patient rightsLegal protections for care recipients
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- capacityMaximum amount containable
agency · choice · bodily autonomy · preferences · dignity · competence · mental capacity · healthcare decisions
end-of-life
Nearing death phase
- terminal illnessIncurable, deadly medical condition
- deathCessation of life
- dyingCeasing to live
last days · prognosis · decline · inevitable · preparation · acceptance · legacy · peace · closure · comfort
DNR
End-of-life medical directive
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- resuscitationRestoring vital functions
palliative care · hospice · comfort care · hydration · feeding tube · CPR · mechanical ventilation · dialysis · intubation · tracheostomy
advance directive
Documented future healthcare preferences
- healthcare proxyAppointed medical decision-maker
- power of attorneyLegal authority for another's decisions
- estate planningPreparing asset distribution posthumously
notarized · legal counsel · executor · probate · guardianship · testator · witnessed · surrogate · fiduciary · attorney-in-fact
bioethics
Moral philosophy for medicine
- beneficenceActive desire to help
- medical ethicsHealthcare moral principles
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
euthanasia · dignity · quality of life · moral agency · sanctity of life · patient advocacy · ethical dilemma · withdrawal of care · compassion · justice
self-determination
Control over one's fate
- informed consentPermission given with understanding
- patient rightsLegal protections for care recipients
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
capacity · agency · choice · bodily autonomy · preferences · dignity · competence · mental capacity · healthcare decisions · values
- deathdead, deceased, corpse, mortality, demise
- health documentshealth card, medical clearance, health screening, immunization record, vaccination record
- medical lawmalpractice, medical liability, informed consent, medical licensing, medical negligence
- documentsdocument, news, email, report, letter
- Body Rightsbodily autonomy, medical consent, self-ownership, reproductive rights, medical autonomy
- death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death penalty, death benefits
living willlast will and testament
Document directing posthumous asset distribution
testament · will · estate plan · bequest · trust instrument
will, living, willing, unwilling, willful, goodwill, willed, free will, ill-will