Final answer:
A living will is a written legal document that states the type of health care an individual desires if they become unable to make decisions. It can include specific interventions a person wants and may appoint a health care proxy to make medical decisions on their behalf.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a living will is to state the type of health care an individual desires if he or she becomes unable to make decisions. It is a written legal document that details specific interventions a person wants. For example, a person in the last stages of a terminal illness may not want to receive life-extending treatments. The living will can also include a health care proxy, which appoints a specific person to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself.