A Living Will - is not a part of your Last Will and Testament.  It is a separate document that lets your family members and your doctor know what type of care you do or don't want to receive should you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious.  It becomes effective only when you cannot express your wishes yourself.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care - allows you to designate someone to make health care decisions for you when you are unable to do so.

Terminal Condition - means an irreversible or incurable condition for which the administration of medical treatment will serve to prolong the dying process.

Persistent Vegetative State - means a condition that medical judgment finds constitutes complete and irreversible loss of all of the functions of the cerebral cortex and results in a complete, chronic and irreversible cessation of all cognitive functioning and consciousness, and a complete lack of behavioral responses that indicate no cognitive functioning, although autonomic functions continue.

Life Sustaining Treatment - includes drugs, machines, or medical procedures that would keep you alive but would not cure you.

Feeding Tube - means a medical tube through which nutrition or hydration is administered into the vein, stomach, nose, mouth or other body opening.