In North Carolina, a living will is a document that tells others that you want to die a natural death if you. have an incurable or irreversible condition that will result in death in a relatively short period of time, are permanently unconscious, or suffering from advanced dementia or any other condition that results in substantial loss of cognitive ability and health care providers determine that it is not reversible.
In a living will, you can direct your doctor not to use treatments that would delay your dying without helping you to get better. Examples might be not using a breathing machine ("respirator" or "ventilator") if it will not help, or stopping such treatments if they have been started and are not helping. You can also direct your doctor not to begin or to stop giving you food and water through a tube ("artificial nutrition or hydration").
Download a blank Living Will form.*
* This document complies with North Carolina law regarding advance directives. Other versions of this document are available from various sources.
