A Living Will refers to a person's written or oral indication of the types of treatments he or she wants to receive if he or she becomes ill and cannot communicate his wishes at that time. A person who does not want to receive artificial life sustaining medical treatment can communicate this desire in a Living Will.
While the Health Care Proxy names an agent, the Living Will does not name an agent. Instead, the Living Will contains directions that the health care providers follow with regard to the administration of artificial life sustaining treatment. Many states presently have Living Wills statutes.