Legal Definitions - in extremis

The Latin phrase in extremis describes a situation where an individual is facing immediate and severe peril, often involving a life-threatening condition or being on the very brink of death. It signifies a critical, last-minute state where circumstances are dire and urgent.

• Example 1: Medical Directive
  A patient in the intensive care unit, suffering from a sudden, severe medical crisis that doctors indicate is likely fatal within hours, dictates a new advance medical directive to their family, specifying their wishes regarding life support. The patient's condition is considered in extremis because they are facing imminent death, prompting a critical, last-minute decision about their healthcare.

• Example 2: Emergency Rescue
  During a perilous mountain rescue operation, a climber who has fallen and sustained life-threatening injuries, trapped and rapidly losing consciousness, manages to whisper the location of their hidden emergency beacon to the rescue team. The climber is in extremis due to their severe injuries and the immediate danger of succumbing to them, making their communication a desperate, last-ditch effort.

• Example 3: Witness Statement
  A victim of a serious accident, moments before losing consciousness permanently, provides a crucial verbal statement to a police officer identifying the perpetrator. The victim's state is in extremis because they are on the verge of death, and their statement is given under the most dire and urgent circumstances.