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Simple English definitions for legal terms
right to die
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A quick definition of right to die:
The right to die is the right of a person who is very sick and cannot get better to say they do not want any more treatment that will keep them alive. This is also called the right to refuse treatment. Sometimes, people write down their wishes about medical treatment in a document called an advance directive. This document tells doctors what to do if the person becomes too sick to make decisions. Another name for an advance directive is a power of attorney for healthcare or healthcare proxy.
A more thorough explanation:
The right to die refers to the right of a terminally ill person to refuse life-sustaining treatment. This is also known as the right to refuse treatment. For example, if a person is suffering from a terminal illness and is in a lot of pain, they may choose to stop receiving treatment that is only prolonging their suffering.
An advance directive is a legal document that takes effect when a person becomes incompetent and designates a surrogate decision-maker for healthcare matters. This document is often used to ensure that a person's wishes about medical treatment are respected if they become unable to communicate. For example, a person may specify in their advance directive that they do not want to be kept alive by artificial means if they are in a vegetative state.
A do-not-resuscitate order is a medical order that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a person's heart stops or they stop breathing. This order is often used for people who are terminally ill and do not want to be resuscitated if their heart stops. For example, a person with a terminal illness may choose to have a do-not-resuscitate order in place to ensure that they are not kept alive artificially.