A patient tells a nurse that she has prepared a living will (LW). The nurse understands that a liv-ing will: (Select all that apply.)
a. is an advanced directive that is used in the situation of a person who is unable to speak for herself or himself.
b. is a legally binding document in all states and territories of the United States.
c. appoints a proxy to uphold the patient's wishes.
d. includes the provision that the patient's next of kin have more authority than the appointed proxy.
e. can be revoked by the patient at any time in either writing or verbally.
ANS: A, C, E
The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) recognized a Living Will (LW) as an advanced di-rective that is specifically related to a situation in which a person is facing a terminal illness and unable to speak for herself/himself. It is a morally and, in some jurisdictions, legally binding document in which adults could express their wishes regarding end-of-life decisions for some future time when they were unable to do so for themselves. The exact requirements for a living will and the associated laws around it vary from state to state. The patient appoints a proxy to uphold his or her wishes when he or she is no longer able to do so. As the proxy is selected by the individual, the legal assumption is that a designated person has more authority than the next-of-kin. The patient can revoke an LW verbally or in writing at any time for any reason.
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