A living will describes what a patient would want if they become terminally ill, defined as less than six months to live.

• A. Describes what the patient would want if he becomes terminally ill (terminal illness defined as less than six months to live).
• B. Describes their financial beneficiaries.
• C. Describes how to transfer property on death.
• D. Describes the appointment of a guardian.

Answer: (A)

End-of-life medical decision making through an advance directive is what a living will address. It specifically records what medical treatments a patient would want if they become terminally ill or otherwise unable to communicate their wishes, typically when the prognosis is six months or less. This guides doctors and family about choices like whether to pursue life-sustaining interventions, resuscitation, ventilators, or feeding tubes, based on the patient’s preferences. In contrast, documents about financial beneficiaries, transfer of property on death, or appointing a guardian deal with assets or guardianship rather than medical care decisions. A living will is focused on the medical care the patient would want in those end-of-life situations, which is why it best matches the description given.