Final answer:
A Living Will details specific medical preferences for when a person cannot make decisions, which may include a DNR or appointing a health care proxy. A Durable Power of Attorney allows someone to make decisions, including health and financial decisions, when a person is incapacitated. Both documents enable individuals to dictate their future care and maintain their autonomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney
The Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney are two distinct legal documents that serve different purposes for an individual's healthcare and personal wishes. A Living Will is a legal document detailing specific medical interventions a person wants or does not want if they become unable to make decisions for themselves, such as in the case of a terminal illness.
This may include instructions like a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order or the appointment of a health care proxy, sometimes as part of the living will document, who makes medical decisions on the person's behalf.
In contrast, the Durable Power of Attorney is a broader legal document that grants a trusted individual the authority to make a range of decisions on behalf of the person, including financial and healthcare matters, effective when the person can no longer communicate their wishes.
While a Living Will is enacted when specific health situations arise as outlined in the document, the Durable Power of Attorney becomes effective upon the individual's incapacitation and can include decision-making powers beyond health-related issues.
The purposes of both documents align with people's proactive approaches to quality-of-life decisions, allowing for preservation of autonomy and ensuring wishes are upheld.
They are part of proactive planning that may include retirement planning and choosing living arrangements that offer independence while providing necessary care.