What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that outlines an individual’s preferences regarding medical treatments and interventions in the event that they become terminally ill or incapacitated and are unable to communicate their wishes. This document typically specifies which types of life-sustaining treatments the individual does or does not want, such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or feeding tubes. The primary purpose of a living will is to ensure that a person's healthcare decisions are respected, allowing them to maintain control over their medical care even when they cannot actively participate in decision-making.

This option is correct because it accurately captures the essential function of a living will in the context of end-of-life medical care, highlighting its role in documenting specific healthcare preferences under critical circumstances.