# Medical directive

Canonical URL: https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/medical-directive
Markdown twin: https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/medical-directive/llms.txt
Category: Estate & Legacy Planning (https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/categories/estate-legacy-planning)
Also known as: Advance directive, Living will, Healthcare directive
Last updated: 2026-04-18

## Definition

A medical directive (also called an advance directive or living will) is a legal document that records your healthcare wishes — including life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation, and end-of-life care — for use if you cannot communicate them yourself. It is typically paired with a medical power of attorney that names someone to make in-the-moment decisions.

## Key takeaways

- A medical directive states your wishes; a medical POA names who decides if you can't.
- Both documents are state-specific in form and execution.
- Hospitals, primary care doctors, and family should all have copies.
- Update after diagnosis, surgery, marriage, divorce, or any change in proxy.

## How Olomon thinks about this

_The following section is Olomon's first-party perspective, informed by our work building a financial system of record. It is intentionally separated from the neutral definitional content above._

Medical directives matter only if they can be found at 2 a.m. Olomon stores executed directives and HIPAA authorizations in your record, with permissioned access for designated proxies, so the right document reaches the right person at the right hospital.

## In-depth definition

Medical directives exist so that doctors, hospitals, and your family don't have to guess about your wishes in a crisis. The directive itself is a written statement of what care you would and would not want; a medical POA (sometimes called a healthcare proxy) names the person empowered to interpret and apply your wishes in real time.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a living will the same as a medical directive?

Living will is one form of advance directive. Most states use the broader term “advance directive” to encompass living wills, healthcare proxy designations, and instructions like DNR or POLST forms.

## Sources

1. [Advance Care Planning: Advance Directives for Health Care](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning/advance-care-planning-advance-directives-health-care) — National Institute on Aging (NIH). Cited for: Federal definition and explanation.

## Related terms

- [Power of attorney](https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/power-of-attorney)
- [Estate plan](https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/estate-plan)
- [Legacy contact](https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/legacy-contact)

## Cite this page

Olomon Editorial Team. (2026). Medical directive. Olomon Financial Glossary. https://olomon.com/financial-glossary/medical-directive

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