natural-death act. A statute that allows a person to prepare a living will instructing a physician to withhold life-sustaining procedures if the person should become terminally ill. See ADVANCE DIRECTIVE; LIVING WILL. [Cases: Health 916.]
living will. An instrument, signed with the formalities statutorily required for a will, by which a person directs that his or her life not be artificially prolonged by extraordinary measures when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery from extreme physical or mental disability. • Most states have living-will legislation. — Also termed declaration of
advance directive. 1. A document that takes effect upon one’s incompetency and designates a surrogate deci-sion-maker for healthcare matters. • The Uniform Health-Care Decision Act (1993) states that the power of attorney for healthcare must be in writing and signed by the principal. Unless otherwise stated, the authority is effective only upon a determination that