The Living Will or Health Care Directive is a document that allows a person to direct that no life-sustaining measures be performed in the event that person is in a situation where there is no reasonable hope that the person will recover from their current medical condition. Such a document is binding in the state of Missouri and should be distributed to and discussed with the maker’s physician, family members and clergy. While this document is not for everyone, without it, medical personnel can prevent the family from carrying out the individual’s wishes of refusing or disconnecting life support.