What Is The Difference Between A Living Will And An Advance Directive?
A living will is a more limited type of advance directive because you only make decisions about lifesustaining procedures in the event that your death from a terminal condition is imminent despite the application of lifesustaining procedures or you are in a persistent vegetative state (permanent unconsciousness). The advance directive provides you with many more options, including the naming of a health care agent. With the advance directive, you can also make decision about lifesustaining procedures in the event of terminal condition, persistent vegetative state AND endstage condition. If you decide to make decisions about lifesustaining procedures in Part B of the advance directive, you should NOT fill out the living will too.
