Legal Definitions - declaration of a desire for a natural death

A declaration of a desire for a natural death is a legal document, often referred to as a Living Will, that allows an individual to express their wishes regarding medical treatment should they become unable to communicate their decisions. Specifically, it states their preference to decline life-sustaining procedures, such as artificial respiration, feeding tubes, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if they are in a terminal condition, a persistent vegetative state, or have an end-stage condition, and these treatments would only prolong the dying process without hope of recovery. The purpose is to ensure a natural dying process and prevent unwanted medical interventions.

• Example 1: Mrs. Eleanor Vance, an 85-year-old woman with advanced heart disease, consults with her attorney. She completes a "declaration of a desire for a natural death" to specify that if her heart condition worsens to the point where she requires a ventilator to breathe or a feeding tube to sustain her, she wishes for these interventions to be withheld. She wants to be kept comfortable but allowed to die naturally, without prolonged artificial support.

  Explanation: This illustrates the term because Mrs. Vance is proactively declaring her desire to refuse life-sustaining treatment in specific circumstances, aiming for a natural death rather than a prolonged artificial one.

• Example 2: Mark, a healthy 30-year-old, decides to prepare for unforeseen circumstances after a friend was in a severe car accident. He executes a "declaration of a desire for a natural death" stating that if he were to suffer a catastrophic brain injury or enter a persistent vegetative state from which recovery is deemed impossible, he does not want to be kept alive indefinitely by machines. He wants his family and doctors to honor his wish for comfort care only, allowing nature to take its course.

  Explanation: Mark's declaration serves as his clear statement, made while competent, that he desires a natural death and wishes to avoid prolonged artificial life support if he were to become incapacitated by an unexpected, irreversible condition.

• Example 3: After receiving a diagnosis of aggressive, untreatable cancer, Mr. David Chen completes a "declaration of a desire for a natural death." He explicitly states that if his disease progresses to a terminal stage where medical treatments are no longer curative and would only extend his suffering, he wants to refuse interventions like chemotherapy, dialysis, or resuscitation efforts. His priority is to maintain his dignity and comfort during his final days, allowing his body to naturally succumb to the illness.

  Explanation: Mr. Chen's document is a direct expression of his desire for a natural death, ensuring that medical professionals will respect his choice to forgo aggressive, life-prolonging treatments when his condition becomes terminal and recovery is not possible.