What does a living will address regarding a patient's medical treatment?

A living will specifically addresses a patient's wishes regarding the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in situations where they may be unable to communicate their preferences due to severe illness or incapacity. This legal document allows individuals to outline their desires about medical interventions when they are facing end-of-life scenarios or terminal conditions, ensuring that their wishes are honored.

While preferences for palliative care, decisions about organ donation, and the wish to receive all possible treatments may be fundamental aspects of a patient's overall healthcare planning, they are not the primary focus of a living will. Instead, the living will primarily serves to clarify the patient’s decisions related to life-sustaining measures—such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and other aggressive treatments—when these may artificially prolong the dying process without a reasonable hope of recovery.