Implementing the living will and other advance directives: guidelines for health care providers

Living wills and other advance directives for the refusal of medical treatment by patients no longer able to make their own medical decisions have gained increasing acceptance in the last decade. In addition to constitutional and common law rights to refuse treatment, living will statutes have been enacted in many states to permit advance directives under specified circumstances. This article explores both statutory and non-statutory advance directives and offers guidelines for hospitals and medical staffs when decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment must be made for adults with terminal or irreversible illnesses.