A living will—also known as an Advance Health Care Directive—is a document in which the declarant or principal (person making the living will) specifies what kind of medical treatment the declarant does and does not want if the declarant has a medical emergency and is unable to communicate those wishes. A living will may direct health care providers to administer, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if the declarant is in a terminal or irreversible condition.

Laws and terminology for documents related to living wills, Advance Health Care Directives, Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs), and other health care documents vary from state to state. These laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the probate code or estates code.

In Iowa, a living will is recognized under the Iowa Code Chapter 144A, known as the 'Iowa Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Act.' This document allows an individual, known as the declarant, to outline their preferences for medical treatment in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes due to a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness. The living will can include instructions on the use of life-sustaining procedures, including whether to administer, withhold, or withdraw treatment. Additionally, Iowa recognizes the use of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, which are separate from living wills and instruct medical personnel not to perform CPR if the patient's breathing or heart stops. It is important for individuals to ensure that their living wills and other advance directives comply with Iowa law and to discuss their wishes with their attorney, family members, and health care providers to ensure that their preferences are understood and followed.