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The most common types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care (sometimes known as the medical power of attorney). There are many advance directive formats.

Are there different types of advance directives? Yes. Three types are a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and a do-not-resuscitate declaration. There is also a declaration of anatomical gift, to take effect when you die.

The purpose of a living will is to give exact instructions on what type of medicine or medical care you wish to accept or decline, while an advance directive offers much more information and is capable of being more comprehensive.

If you appoint a Power of Attorney, or a Health Care Proxy, they can override your Living Will. As stated earlier, a Power of Attorney can be given authority to make medical decisions and financial decisions. A Health Care Proxy can only be given authority to make medical decisions, not financial decisions.

A power of attorney may be more flexible, since it's impossible to predict all the medical decisions that might come up in the future and spell out your exact preferences for all of these situations. Many states actually combine the living will and power of attorney into one "advance directive" form.

An advance directive (living will) allows you to clearly state your wishes for medical treatment at the end of life. Unlike a medical power of attorney, an advance directive can only be enacted if you are unable to communicate your wishes.