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 Mississippi, a living will is recognized under the state's statutes as an Advance Health Care Directive. This legal document allows an individual, known as the declarant, to outline their preferences for medical treatment in the event that they are unable to communicate their wishes due to a medical emergency. The directive can include instructions to provide, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if the declarant is in a terminal condition or an irreversible condition. Mississippi law ensures that these directives are respected by health care providers, and the document must be properly executed according to state requirements to be valid. Additionally, Mississippi recognizes Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs), which are separate directives that inform medical personnel not to perform CPR if the patient's breathing or heart stops. It is important for individuals to understand the specific requirements and implications of these documents and to consult with an attorney to ensure that their health care wishes are clearly and legally documented.