The purpose of the Living Will is to provide direction to your relatives and your health care provider in the event you become terminally ill and you are unable to articulate your desires as far as health care is concerned.
The language of the Living Will is specifically provided by statute and requires you to initial specific provisions to make various elections. Your initials in various places throughout the document constitutes an affirmative election to have your relatives and your health care provider continue or halt certain medical treatments in specified circumstances thereby providing an option to avoid a situation where heroic efforts are undertaken to extend your life when prospects for your recovery are nominal.