What is a living will?

A living will is specifically designed to outline an individual's preferences regarding medical treatment in the event that they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. This document allows individuals to specify what types of medical interventions they would like to receive or decline, particularly in critical situations such as terminal illness or life support scenarios. This ensures that healthcare providers and family members are aware of the individual's desires, thus guiding them to make decisions that align with the person's values and wishes.

The other options do not accurately represent a living will. Legal representation in healthcare refers to a different type of document that appoints someone to make decisions on behalf of an individual, rather than expressing a personal preference for treatment. A healthcare insurance policy pertains to financial coverage for medical services, which is unrelated to the personal treatment choices that a living will articulates. Lastly, a doctor's written order for medical treatment pertains to a specific medical directive issued by a physician, rather than a document created by a patient to communicate their own preferences.