End-of-life decisions are addressed by which document?

• A. Living Will
• B. Durable Power of Attorney
• C. Advanced Directive
• D. HIPAA Authorization

Answer: (A)

End-of-life decisions are about what care you want when you can’t express your wishes. A living will is a written directive that lays out which life-sustaining treatments you would want or decline in situations such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It directly communicates preferences about resuscitation, intubation, dialysis, artificial nutrition and hydration, and comfort-focused measures, making it the document that addresses end-of-life care specifically. A durable power of attorney for health care designates someone to make medical decisions for you when you’re unable, but it does not specify the treatments you want. An advance directive is a broader term that can include both a living will and a durable power of attorney; however, the living will is the part that records explicit end-of-life treatment choices. HIPAA authorization relates to permission to share health information and does not govern care decisions.