A living will is a written statement of your wishes regarding medical treatment. The statement is to be followed if you are unable to provide instructions at the time a medical decision needs to be made. Unlike the Health Care Proxy which allows another person to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself, the Living Will enables you to express your own preferences regarding medical treatment. It is wise to have both a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy so your wishes as to your care are clearly expressed and so that there is an individual able to act in a situation that may not have been contemplated in your Living Will.