A living will was what some people used in BC, and may still use, to set out their end-of-life decisions so that their doctors and family or friends knew their wishes with respect to receiving certain “heroic” measures to save their life. A representation agreement normally does contain what could be considered a “living will” clause in the sense that it often contains details that set out these end-of-life decisions. The key difference is that a living will direction was not enforceable at law without a great deal of effort. An end-of-life direction set out in a representation agreement is legally enforceable and unalterable by family members who may object to the decision.
