What term is synonymous with the concept of a living will?

The term synonymous with the concept of a living will is "Advance Directive." This terminology encompasses legal documents that outline a person's preferences for medical treatment in situations where they may be unable to communicate their decisions, particularly regarding end-of-life care. A living will specifically indicates what types of medical interventions or life-sustaining treatments a person desires or wishes to forgo in critical scenarios, making it a form of advance directive.

While other terms like Power of Attorney and Healthcare Proxy relate to the broader topic of medical decision-making, they have different functions. A Power of Attorney allows an individual to appoint someone to make financial or legal decisions on their behalf, while a Healthcare Proxy designates someone to make health-related decisions for an individual when they cannot do so themselves. An End-of-life directive, though similar to a living will, can be broader and may not always encompass the specific medical treatment preferences laid out in a traditional living will. Thus, "Advance Directive" is the most aligned term with the concept of a living will.