What does Utah law permit individuals to create to outline their health care preferences?

Utah law permits individuals to create living wills to outline their health care preferences. A living will is a legal document that indicates a person's wishes regarding medical treatment in situations where they may not be able to communicate their decisions themselves, especially in cases of terminal illness or incapacitation. This document allows an individual to specify which medical interventions they would want or not want, providing guidance to health care providers and family members about their preferred level of care.

This choice is particularly relevant as living wills in Utah are recognized as a means for individuals to exert control over their medical decisions, ensuring that their health care preferences are respected even if they cannot articulate them at a later time. While options such as durable powers of attorney and health care proxies may also relate to health care decisions, they serve slightly different purposes. A durable power of attorney typically gives someone authority to make financial decisions, and a health care proxy designates an individual to make health care decisions on behalf of someone else. In contrast, a living will specifically focuses on the individual's direct wishes concerning their health care treatment.