Is an advance directive different from a “living will”?
An Advance Directive is now the legally recognized format for a living will in California. It replaced the living will (Natural Death Act Declaration). An advance directive is more comprehensive than a living will, which only states your desire not to receive life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious. An advance directive allows you to state your wishes about refusing or accepting life-sustaining treatment in any situation. Unlike a living will, an advance directive also can be used to state your desires about your health care in any situation in which you are unable to make your own decisions, not just when you are in a coma or are terminally ill. In addition, an Advance Directive allows you to appoint someone you trust to speak for you when you are incapacitated. You do not need a separate living will if you have already stated your wishes about life-sustaining treatment in an advance directive.
