Under a living will, comfort measures may be provided to ease symptoms such as pain or breathing effort.

Under a living will, comfort measures may be provided to ease symptoms such as pain or breathing effort.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if a DPOA approves
• D. Only in hospice

Answer: (A)

Comfort measures focus on relieving suffering and are allowed under a living will. While a living will sets preferences about withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments, it does not bar the provision of palliative or comfort care. Medications and interventions aimed at easing pain, breathlessness, and other distress are provided to comfort the patient, and the primary intent is relief of suffering; the double effect principle permits their use even if death might occur as a secondary effect. You do not need a durable power of attorney to authorize these measures—the advance directive itself guides them. Hospice is a common setting for comfort care, but comfort measures can be provided outside hospice if consistent with the living will.

Comfort measures focus on relieving suffering and are allowed under a living will. While a living will sets preferences about withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments, it does not bar the provision of palliative or comfort care. Medications and interventions aimed at easing pain, breathlessness, and other distress are provided to comfort the patient, and the primary intent is relief of suffering; the double effect principle permits their use even if death might occur as a secondary effect. You do not need a durable power of attorney to authorize these measures—the advance directive itself guides them. Hospice is a common setting for comfort care, but comfort measures can be provided outside hospice if consistent with the living will.