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A living will is not a part of a person's will. A living will is a separate document that lets family members know what type of care a person does or does not want to receive should he become terminally ill or permanently unconscious. A living will becomes effective only when a person cannot express his wishes himself.

A durable power of attorney for health care can serve a role where a person cannot consent to the withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures, but typically it also is directed to other medical decisions. A living will by contrast is designed solely to direct doctors, hospitals, family members, and others to withdraw life-sustaining procedures. The living will constitutes a direction by the person himself or herself.

A living will is becoming more important in this day of modern technology as a protection for you and your loved ones. The term living will refers to what many people call the right to die clause. The living will in effect states that if your life is being sustained solely by artificial means, it is your desire that the plug be pulled. Granted, this decision to create a living will has to be done by you while you are competent.

Is a Living Will Accepted?
On June 25 1990 the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed our constitutional right to die. Therefore, a living will is a legally accepted document. Remember that if you have a living will you have a right to determine your own quality of life.

The living will is not an order to act. The living will is simply your right to act. Many people worry that if they have a living will and something happens, the doctor is going to immediately see your living will and pull the plug. This is simply not so. The living will is available to be used, but only you or your family decides when the living will should be used.