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A document in which a person states his or her choices for medical treatment or designates an individual who should make treatment choices if the person should lose the ability to make decisions. With this document, a person can pre-determine end-of-life decisions about his or her future in a legally detailed way.

A procedure that delivers a mix of nutrients and fluids when a patient is unable to eat or drink. This is done through IV lines and feeding tubes and is not a natural process of eating food or drinking liquid.

A medical procedure that often involves chest compressions, administration of drugs and electric shock, which is used to restore the heartbeat at the time of a cardiac arrest.

Do Not Resuscitate; a medical order to refrain from cardiopulmonary resuscitation if a patient's heart stops beating (cardiac arrest) or if a patient stops breathing (respiratory arrest). A DNR is not the same as a living will.

An advance directive, which allows an individual to select any person to make his or her medical decisions if he or she becomes temporarily or even permanently unable to make those decisions.

A medical procedure administered to a patient to prolong life. These procedures are not expected to cure a terminal condition or make the individual better. Examples include a ventilator, kidney dialysis and CPR.

A permanent coma or state of unconsciousness caused by injury, disease or illness. The patient is unaware of his or her surroundings, and no reasonable expectation of recovery exists.

An incurable condition in which death will occur within a short time (in general, considered less than one year) and medical treatment will only prolong the dying process.