Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

A Living Will is a legal document that outlines a patient’s preferences in regard to medical treatment, including life-sustaining measures, if they are incapacitated or unable to express their wishes. Understanding a Living Will is vital as it directly impacts how a healthcare provider should proceed with treatment. In contrast, a Health Care Proxy names someone to make decisions on the patient’s behalf, an Advance Directive is a general term for documents that include a Living Will and Health Care Proxy, and Informed Consent is a process of communication between a patient and health care provider regarding a proposed medical treatment or procedure.