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The expressed will of a patient, in writing, which the signer requests not to be kept alive by medical life-support systems in the event of a terminal illness.

Although the definition of a Living Will may seem somewhat macabre or lack sensitivity, it has become an integral part of the medical field today as it addresses a very necessary medical decision. In years past, doctors did not have the tools or facilities available for preserving life artificially; a Living Will was not as necessary as it is today. In the past, when the heart or other vital organs failed, the individual would slowly die; however, with today’s medicine, there are new techniques, drugs, transplantation capabilities, a multitude of other artificial medical devices that help to prolong life.

In many instances, these devices are substitutes in nature. How so? Take for example a heart injured by a heart attack, such as a myocardial infarction (MI). It may receive an initial insult from the lack of oxygen causing damage to the heart muscle. This initial insult may be too much for the heart; it stops beating, and the person dies. However, if the heart can be supported until natural healing activities repair much of the damage then the patient may live a number of normal, healthy years.

Doctors typically try to prolong and maintain life to the greatest extent possible; this is the cornerstone of their profession. And yet, there may be times when preserving life by artificial means is inadvisable, these substitute measures are used for continuous life support; without the machine's support, the person dies. The quality of life may also be limited, ranging from total coma to restriction to a hospital bed with attending life-support devices.

For some, this quality of life, with its lack of dignity and mechanical intervention is not only difficult to imagine, but totally unacceptable. For reasons of dignity, a person may wish to forego such extreme life support measures and allow the dying process to continue without hindrance; however, if one were unconscious or unable to express these wishes, then how would they let their caregivers know of their desire to avoid such extreme measures? In essence, it is their Living Will that speaks for them.