A Living Will is sometimes collectively know as advance directives. A Living Will states your wishes for end-of-life care. It relieves others from having to make hard decisions on your behalf.
According to Texas statutes you may sign a Living Will if it meets the requirements set forth in the Law. If a doctor states that you have a terminal condition from which you are expected to die within six months even with available life-sustaining treatment, you can request that all treatments other than those needed to keep you comfortable be discontinued or withheld and let you die as gently as possible or keep you alive using available life-sustaining treatment. If a doctor certifies (you are not under Hospice Care), you are suffering from an irreversible condition where you cannot care for or make decisions for yourself and you are expected to die without life-sustaining treatment you have the same two options. If you are placed in hospice care only those treatments needed to keep you comfortable will be provided, and you will not receive any life-sustaining treatment. The state of Texas defines an irreversible life-sustaining treatment as well as a terminal condition.