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 Idaho, a living will or Advance Health Care Directive is a legal document that 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. This document can specify whether the declarant wants to receive, withhold, or withdraw life-sustaining treatments if they are in a terminal condition or an irreversible coma. Idaho's statutes provide the framework for creating a valid living will, which must be in compliance with state requirements to be legally enforceable. The document typically needs to be signed by the declarant and witnessed or notarized. Idaho also recognizes Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, which are separate directives that inform medical personnel not to perform CPR or other life-saving measures if the patient's heart stops or if they stop breathing. It's important for individuals to understand the specific legal requirements in Idaho for these documents to ensure that their health care wishes are respected.