Living wills: making patients' wishes known.
Writing a living will allows patients to issue an advance directive on their care. Should an individual become unable to communicate or lose the mental capacity to make treatment decisions, staff can refer to the living will. Nurses have an important role as patient advocates. In future, living wills may serve to strengthen and formalise this important aspect of nursing care.
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D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D016224:Living Wills; D016743:Mental Competency; D010344:Patient Advocacy