Final answer:
A living will is a legal document that specifies a person's healthcare preferences should they become unable to communicate, potentially including a DNR order or the appointment of a health care proxy. Correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal document that states a client's health-related wishes, such as a preference for pain management if the client becomes terminally ill, is known as a living will. A living will is a written legal document that provides specific instructions regarding the medical treatment an individual wishes to receive or not receive should they become unable to communicate their preferences.
This can include directives such as a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or the appointment of a health care proxy, who is authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of the individual if they are incapacitated. Such documents serve to uphold the principle of autonomy by ensuring a person's healthcare preferences are respected, and they can be especially important in situations involving terminal illness, where options such as hospice care may also be considered.