How to draft a living Will using AI

In this article, I will guide you through drafting a living will using AI tools. You will learn about the Supreme Court’s landmark decision that legalised advance directives in India and the practical requirements for creating legally enforceable documents. Whether you are a law student or a practicing lawyer new to handling end-of-life legal matters for the first time, this article will provide the essential knowledge to create legally sound living wills.

Introduction

It was 9 p.m. when my phone buzzed. It was Sabrina who was calling me. After three years of late-night calls about case emergencies, I knew this was not a casual call.

Sabrina and I had started as strangers during my summer internship; she was a year senior to me and working in that firm. Now, she is one of my closest friends and my go-to person for any kind of legal puzzles that keep us both awake at night.

“Hey, stranger,” I answered. “Calling this late? Must be something serious.”

“You are not going to believe the brief that just landed on my desk,” she said, and I could hear the mix of excitement and anxiety in her voice.

“Let me guess, is it another property dispute where the family is fighting over some property?”

“Actually, no.” She paused, “The client wants me to draft a living will for him. And I have never actually drafted one.”

That got my attention. Sabrina was brilliant with contracts and has handled some complex cases, but let me tell you, living wills are a different territory. They require a delicate balance of legal precision and personal expression.

We met that weekend at our usual coffee shop, and she showed me the notes that she had prepared.

“Let me tell you what makes this challenging,” she began, tapping her pen against her notepad.

“The client has mentioned explicitly that he does not want a document that is simply ✂️ Cut →📋 Copy →📌 Paste from some template available online. He wants his family to hear his voice when they read it.”

“So what is the problem? You are great at adding personal touches to your legal documents.”

Before I came, she had spent almost two hours thinking about how to go about it.

She said,” Every time I start typing something, it either sounds too informal, or I am stuck with what to write next.”

“You know what? What if we try using AI to help us with the initial draft?”

“AI? For legal drafting?” she sounded skeptical. “You really think that would work for something this sensitive?”

“At least hear me out first,” I said, already pulling up my laptop. “I am not talking about having AI directly write the entire document for you. But what if we use it to break through that blank page barrier? We could simply give it the correct prompts, that is, your client’s specific wishes, his family situation, the tone he wants, and we can use the output as a starting point.”

“So, here the trick is to give AI the correct prompts, and then all you have to do is review, refine, and add your personal touches to it. Is this simple?”

But remember, AI does not substitute the knowledge and experience of a lawyer; you will have to review and refine it.

“There is only one way to find out,” I said, “why not experiment with it?”

I have written an article on how to draft a will; you can read that if you want to know more about it. But I have taught how to draft one manually.

Are you also excited to learn how giving the right prompts helped us generate a living will? Then read further.

However, before we delve into the know-how of drafting, let us clarify our concepts.

What is a living will?

It is a legal document that outlines specific wishes regarding medical treatment if the person becomes unable to make or communicate those decisions themselves. So here I am talking about situations where the person might be unconscious, in a coma, or even suffering from severe dementia, etc. It basically addresses many life-threatening treatments and procedures.

Living wills are also known as advance directives.

Was this easy to understand? Read further.

“So, is it different from a regular will?” Sabrina asked me. Is this a question that has crossed your mind as well?

It is different. A last will and testament addresses how assets and properties would be disposed of after the death of a person.

On the other hand, a living will is about the type of medical treatment a person shall receive if they are unable to make decisions for themselves.

However, let me tell you that the person making a living will is not planning his funeral or deciding who will inherit his assets and properties. He is, in fact, making decisions about life support, pain management, and the kinds of medical interventions that the person does or does not want.

Sabrina was carefully listening to me, and I could see her legal mind organising the information.

“What kind of decisions are we talking about specifically?” Sabrina asked.

“Well, the most common ones involve whether he wants to be kept on a ventilator if there is no hope of recovery. It could also be whether he wants to be an organ donor or even his wishes about being moved to a hospice facility.”

For the ones who are not aware, let me tell you that a hospice facility is a place where individuals facing a terminal illness can spend their remaining time with dignity and surrounded by their loved ones while focusing on comfort, pain management, and emotional support rather than curative treatment. It could also be a patient’s home.

Sabrina responded, “So, that is where the personal element comes in; these are deeply personal choices that reflect on a person’s values and beliefs.”

“Exactly. And here is what makes your client’s request so thoughtful: he simply wants his family to understand not just what his decisions are, but why he is making them. Maybe he is choosing to refuse aggressive treatment not simply because he is giving up, but because he values the quality of life, or perhaps it could be his religious beliefs about certain interventions.”

“So if anything happens to him and his family is sitting in that hospital room, potentially making the hardest decisions of their lives, they will have more than just a clinical directive. They will have his reasoning,” said Sabrina.

“Now you are getting it,” I said.

“And that is exactly why using AI would help us here. We can use it to help structure those deeply personal thoughts into legally sound language without losing the humanity behind them.”

“The living will is not just a legal document; it is like a final conversation between your client and his family,” Sabrina said.

“That is a beautiful way to put it,” I said. “And that is exactly the kind of thinking we need to give the correct prompts to AI.”

Before we proceed to drafting, let us see some landmark judgments on living wills.

What are the landmark judgments on living wills in India?

We did some research on the Indian legal landscape regarding living wills.

“You know what I discovered?” Sabrina said, “India has actually been grappling with this exact issue, and the Supreme Court has handed down some fascinating judgments that could really inform how we approach this.”

There are actually two landmark rulings from the Supreme Court that have shaped the entire framework for living wills in India. The first one was a game-changer

“Tell me about it,” I said.

She went on to say that a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in the case of Common Cause versus Union of India [(2018) 5 Supreme Court Cases 1] that legalises passive euthanasia under specific circumstances. For those unaware, passive euthanasia means an act of withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining medical treatment with the intent to allow a person to die.

I could see Sabrina’s eyebrows raise as she continued to read and explain the judgement to me. “Supreme Court recognised what they called the ‘right to die with dignity’, essentially acknowledging that people should have autonomy over their end-of-life medical decisions.”

I asked, “What did they actually establish in that judgment?”

“The Supreme Court created a framework for what they called ‘advance directives’. However, this is where it becomes interesting from a legal drafting perspective. The court did not just say that living wills are legal now. They laid down specific procedural requirements.”

“Such as?” I asked.

“Well, first, the person executing the living will have to be of sound mind, no surprises there. However, the document must be signed in the presence of two witnesses and countersigned by a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. Plus, it is also mandated that a Medical Board would need to assess the patient’s condition before any treatment could be withdrawn.”

“That sounds… thorough,” I said carefully.

If anyone contested the Medical Board’s decision, the matter could be escalated to the High Court under Article 226. So they were trying to balance individual autonomy with procedural protections,” Sabrina said.

“Exactly. But here is where the story gets really interesting,” she flipped to the next judgement.

“Five years later, in 2023, the same court had to revisit their own judgment [Common Cause (A Regd. Society) v. Union of India and Anr (2023 Modification)] because of practical problems.”

“What kind of problems?”

“The medical community was finding the original guidelines too cumbersome. The Indian Council for Critical Care Medicine found that these procedures were so complex that they were defeating the purpose. So the Supreme Court modified the judgment that simplified the process significantly.” Sabrina said.

“How so?”

Sabrina went on saying, “The Supreme Court eliminated the requirement for the Judicial Magistrate’s countersigning. Now the living will just need to be attested before a notary or a Gazetted Officer. Also, the concept of ‘custodian’ was introduced, who is appointed by local government bodies like Municipal Corporations, to safeguard the documents.”

“You know what strikes me about this progression? It is almost like a real-world test of legal document accessibility. It started with maximum procedural protections, then had to adjust when they realised those protections were actually preventing people from accessing their basic rights.” Sabrina said.

“Brilliant observation,” I said.

“Exactly. And you read that the Supreme Court has twice refined these guidelines itself shows that they are committed to making this process work for real people in real situations.”

I gathered the facts that she had written down. Sabrina said, “We can start right away.”

Are you also ready to dive into the technical side?

How to use AI to draft a living will?

“Alright,” I said, cracking my knuckles as I opened Claude.ai on my laptop.

Sabrina pulled her chair closer to see the screen. “So, how do we start?”

“The first step is always about establishing the foundation, the personal details, and the legal framework. Think of it as setting the stage before we get into the emotional and medical specifics.”

Step 1: Creating the opening declaration and personal details

“Here is how I am going to approach the first prompt,” I explained to Sabrina.

“We need to capture the legal formality while establishing the person’s mental capacity and the voluntary nature of the document.”

I typed out the following prompt:

“Please help me draft the opening section of a living will for a 75 year old retired professional living in Mumbai. The person wants to establish his mental capacity, the voluntary nature of the document, and include all necessary legal identifiers. The tone should be formal yet approachable. Include:

Personal details section: Name-Rajesh Kumar Sharma and address- 304, Sunrise Apartments, Plot No. 22, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai: 400050
Declaration of sound mind and voluntary execution
Reference to fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution
Acknowledgment of having consulted doctors and lawyers
Statement about informed consent and understanding of consequences

Make it sound authoritative but personally meaningful. The person values dignity and has given this decision careful thought.”

I hit enter and waited for the response.

Within moments, Claude generated the following result:

“I, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, aged about 75 years, of Indian Nationality and presently residing at 304, Sunrise Apartments, Plot No. 22, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai: 400050, do hereby state and declare as under:

I am an adult of sound mind and have and possess the ability and capacity to communicate, relate and comprehend the consequences of executing the present writing. I am willfully and voluntarily executing and making the present writing with informed consent after having full knowledge and information and after carefully considering and evaluating the consequences of this writing. I am also well aware of the risks and consequences involved in my directives below. Prior hereto, I have also consulted my doctors and lawyers. My decision with respect to the directives appearing in this declaration is an informed decision.

Under the Constitution of India, I have been conferred the fundamental right to die with dignity. As a result, I do hereby execute and declare this LIVING WILL of mine as a pre-emptive measure, out of my free will and without any coercion, inducement, compulsion, duress or undue influence from any person whatsoever.”

“That is… actually quite good,” Sabrina said, reading over the generated text. “It hits all the legal requirements while maintaining a personal tone.”

“Exactly. Notice how the AI understood the context and included the constitutional reference, the mental capacity declaration, and the voluntary nature clause, all essential elements for Indian legal validity.”

“Now, the next step would be to tackle the philosophical and personal values section, where your client expresses his views on death, dignity, and quality of life.”

Sabrina nodded eagerly. “Let us keep going. I want to see how AI handles the more personal and philosophical elements.”

Step 2: Crafting the personal philosophy and values section

“Now comes the part that really makes this document uniquely your client’s,” I said, stretching my fingers before typing the next prompt.

“This is where we move beyond legal formalities and into the deeply personal territory, his philosophy about life, death, and dignity.”

Sabrina leaned in, clearly interested. “This is the part I was struggling with most. How do you capture someone’s life philosophy without it sounding either too clinical or too emotional?”

“That is exactly why AI can be so helpful here. We can give it the emotional framework and let it help us find the right balance of personal reflection and legal clarity.”

I gave the following prompt:

“Please help me draft a personal philosophy section for a living will from the perspective of an elderly individual who is enjoying a peaceful semi-retired life. The tone should be dignified, reflective, and philosophical. The person acknowledges the inevitability and unpredictability of death, expresses a desire for a seamless and painless transition, and values quality of life over longevity.

. Include:

Acceptance of death without fear, but concern about prolonged suffering or loss of dignity.
A reference to “Ichha Maran” (the desire for a dignified death).
A clear statement that the person wishes to live only while the quality of life is maintained.
A preference to die peacefully in sleep, while noting that this may or may not occur.
The will becomes operative in case of severe illness or cognitive decline (stroke, coma, terminal illness, accident, Alzheimer’s, etc.).
If the illness is treatable and the prognosis is good, all medical remedies must be tried.

Make it sound like a wise elder speaking to their family.”

I pressed Enter and waited for Claude to process the request.

Within moments, the following response appeared:

“I have enjoyed a very good innings so far and am currently enjoying my semi-retired life. I fully realize that death is not only inevitable but also unpredictable, and given my age, it may knock at my door any time – sooner or later. Therefore, I earnestly desire that my transition from this life to the afterlife (if there is one) is not only seamless but also painless. The quality of life for me is more important than its longevity.

I accept death as a natural and inevitable consequence to life and do not fear it. But I fear the process and mode of dying which may be accompanied by undue pain, suffering and the indignity of mental and physical deterioration, causing distress not only to myself but also to my family. I have given considerable thought to this and based on the philosophy of ICHHA MARAN, I make the following declaration.

I wish to continue to live only as long as my health permits a decent quality of life and I fervently wish to die a sudden and peaceful death preferably in sleep but that may or may not happen. Nevertheless just in case it so happens, this LIVING WILL shall be rendered infructuous or inoperative.

If I suffer a major health issue (such as stroke, heart attack, advanced malignancy, coma, any terminal illness, major accident, etc.) that potentially incapacitates me or leaves me incommunicado, or in a persistent vegetative state or subject to serious cognitive decline (such as dementia or Alzheimer’s) that can adversely affect my decision-making faculties, this LIVING WILL of mine shall immediately come into force. Needless to say, if ever I happen to be in the grip of an illness which otherwise carries a good prognosis, it is mandatory that all suitable remedial measures be resorted to without any delay.”

“Wow,” Sabrina said softly, reading through the generated text.”

“Look at how the AI handled the balance,” I pointed out, highlighting different sections on the screen.

It starts with gratitude and acceptance, moves through the philosophical framework, and then gets very specific about medical conditions and triggers. It even includes that crucial caveat about taking all measures if there is hope for recovery.”

“Now you are getting it. And the next step will be even more practical, where we will tackle the specific medical directives and treatment preferences. Ready to see how AI handles the clinical aspects?”

Sabrina nodded eagerly. “Let us keep building this document. I am starting to see how all these pieces will come together into something that is both legally sound and deeply personal.”

Step 3: Defining medical conditions and treatment directives

“Now we get into the heart of the medical decision making,” I said, just before typing a new prompt. “This is where we need to be extremely precise about what medical situations trigger the living will and what specific treatments your client does or does not want.”

Sabrina pulled out her notes from the client meeting. “This is the section where I really need to make sure we are covering all the medical scenarios he is concerned about.”

“Right. The key here is being comprehensive without being overwhelming, and making sure the medical team will have clear guidance.”

I began typing the following prompt.

“Please help me draft the medical directives section of a living will. The person wants very specific guidance about when medical interventions should be stopped. They prioritise dignity and comfort over prolonging life artificially. Include:

Clear criteria for when the living will becomes operative (terminal conditions, vegetative state, severe cognitive decline)
Specific medical conditions that trigger these directives (stroke, heart attack, advanced cancer, coma, dementia, Alzheimer’s, major accidents)
Medical team’s determination requirements (no reasonable probability of recovery, interventions only prolonging the dying process)
Specific treatments to be withheld or withdrawn (life support, ventilators, invasive procedures like tubes and catheters)
Clear reasoning about why these measures would only prolong suffering
Preferences for end-of-life care location (hospital vs. home)
Emphasis on palliative and comfort care to ease discomfort
A preference for dying at home, surrounded by family, if death is imminent

The tone should be medically informed but personally meaningful. Make it clear that this is not about giving up hope, but about avoiding futile suffering.”

I submitted the prompt, and we waited for the following response generated by Claude:

“In situations where my treating physician or team has determined that:

There is no reasonable medical probability of recovery from a terminal condition, end-stage condition, or vegetative state; and
Any further medical intervention or course of treatment would only serve the purpose of artificially prolonging the process of dying.

I direct that any life-prolonging medical procedure/treatment be withheld or withdrawn, and the course of natural death be permitted. I do not wish to be placed on life support, ventilators, or subjected to invasive medical procedures (e.g., insertion of tubes, catheters) if they merely prolong suffering without meaningful recovery, because I very well understand that under the hollow pretext of trying to prolong my life, in such circumstances, it shall actually mean prolonging my misery and increasing my dependence on others.

For the duration of end-of-life care, I wish to stay in a hospital or appropriate medical facility OR at home for the duration of such palliative/comfort care. If death is imminent, I prefer to pass away at home, surrounded by family, with only symptomatic and palliative treatment to ease discomfort.”

“This is incredibly clear,” Sabrina said, studying the generated text. “Look how it sets up the medical criteria first, then flows into the specific directives, and ends with the care preferences.”

“What I really appreciate,” I added, “is how it captures the reasoning behind the decisions.

“And it gives the medical team very specific guidance,” Sabrina noted. “They will know exactly what interventions to avoid while still providing comfort care.”

I scrolled through the text one more time. “Notice how this section builds naturally on the philosophical foundation we created in Step 2. It is the practical application of those deeper values about dignity and quality of life.”

“I can already imagine how this would read to a family in crisis,” Sabrina said quietly.

“Instead of having to guess what their loved one would want, they have his exact words and reasoning.”

“Exactly. And our next step will be equally important, setting up the healthcare power of attorney structure so these decisions can actually be implemented. Ready to continue?”

Step 4: Establishing healthcare power of attorney

“This next section is absolutely crucial,” I said, positioning my hands over the keyboard. “All the beautiful philosophy and clear medical directives in the world will not matter if there is no one empowered to enforce them. We need to create a robust decision-making structure.”

Sabrina nodded, flipping through her client notes. “He was very specific about wanting his family members to have clear authority, but also wanted backup options in case his first choice was not available.”

“Smart thinking. The AI needs to help us create both the appointment structure and define the scope of authority clearly.”

I began typing the following prompt:

“Please help me draft the healthcare power of attorney section for a living will. The person wants to appoint family members with clear authority to make medical decisions. Include:

Introduction explaining the purpose of appointing healthcare attorneys
Formal appointment of primary healthcare power of attorney with complete details: son, Vikram Kumar Sharma (age 48), as my Healthcare Power of Attorney. Mention his Aadhaar number (6142 7038 4529), contact number (9811234567), email ([email protected]), and address (42, Second Floor, Greater Kailash-I, Near M Block Market, New Delhi-110048).
Backup appointment of secondary healthcare power of attorney: other son, Arjun Kumar Sharma (age 44), will act in his place. Include Arjun’s Aadhaar number (7253 8149 6382), contact number (9820123456), email ([email protected]), and address (304, Sunrise Apartments, Plot No. 22, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai-400050).
Clear explanation of when the backup becomes operative
Detailed powers granted to healthcare attorneys, including:
- Access to medical information and records
- Authority to make treatment decisions based on the living will
- Power to consent to, refuse, or withdraw consent for any medical procedures
- Responsibility to honor the person’s stated wishes
Statement that their decisions should be binding regardless of others’ opinions
Authority regarding organ donation decisions (with flexibility for medical college donation)
Use a formal table format for contact details, including full names, relationships, ages, government IDs, phone numbers, emails, and addresses.

The tone should be authoritative and legally binding while showing trust in family members.”

I submitted the prompt and watched as Claude processed our request and generated the following result:

“In order to ensure that my wishes here are the primary basis for taking any treatment decisions, and to make decisions on my behalf for my medical treatment as may be needed from time to time, I have nominated the following person as my Healthcare Power of Attorney.

*Sr No*	*Particulars*	*Information*
a	Full Name	Vikram Kumar Sharma
b	Relationship with the executor	Son
c	Age	48
e	Government ID	Document name: Aadhar card<br>ID no.: 6142 7038 4529
f	Mobile Number(s)	9811234567
g	Email ID(s)	[email protected]
h	Permanent Residential Address	42, Second Floor, Greater Kailash-I, Near M Block Market, New Delhi, Delhi-110048

If my Primary Healthcare Power of Attorney is not available, or unable or unwilling to take a decision or if he predeceases me or is incapable of taking a decision, then I authorise the following persons to act as my Healthcare Power of Attorney:

*Sr No*	*Particulars*	*Information*
a	Full Name	Arjun Kumar Sharma
b	Relationship with the executor	Son
c	Age	44
e	Government ID	Document name: Aadhar card<br>ID no.: 7253 8149 6382
f	Mobile Number(s)	9820123456
g	Email ID(s)	[email protected]
h	Permanent Residential Address	304, Sunrise Apartments, Plot No. 22, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai: 400050

I authorise my Healthcare Power of Attorneys to exercise the following powers:

They can obtain medical information from the treating team regarding my treatment, my health records, and any communications with the treating team;
They can take decisions and act on my behalf regarding my wishes in this document as necessary. These decisions would include, but are not limited to, providing consent, refusing, or withdrawing consent to any care, treatment, service, or procedure, guided primarily by my wishes as expressed in this directive.
The decisions taken by my Healthcare Power of Attorneys should be respected and binding regardless of any contrary views that any other person may hold. They shall be independently responsible for giving this declaration proper effect and honour my wishes, desires and preferences I have herein specified.

If I am ever declared brain-dead, my Healthcare Power of Attorneys named above are fully empowered to take a call, on the advisability of any one or more organ donations from my body subject however to compatibility with prospective recipient/s; alternately, they may in their wisdom decide and donate the same to a Medical College for research purposes. Their consent in this matter shall be tantamount to my own consent as if I were alive.”

“Perfect,” Sabrina said, studying the structured layout. “Look how cleanly the AI organized this; it created the formal table structure, established the hierarchy between primary and backup attorneys, and clearly defined their authority.”

“What is really impressive,” I pointed out, “is how it handled the scope of powers. It is comprehensive without being overwhelming, medical information access, treatment decisions, consent authority, and even the organ donation provision.”

Now, our next step will wrap up the legal framework, where we will need to create the closing provisions about revocation, legal protections, and the witness requirements. Ready to finish this off?

Step 5: Legal protections and closing provisions

“Now we are coming to the final legal framework,” I said, stretching my fingers before typing. “This section is all about making sure the document is bulletproof legally and that everyone involved is protected from liability. It is the safety net that makes everything else enforceable.”

Sabrina looked up from her notes. “This is the part that makes me nervous. We need to make sure we are covering all the legal bases without making it sound intimidating.”

“Exactly. The AI needs to help us create strong legal protections while maintaining the personal tone we have established throughout.”

I began typing the final prompt, which is as follows:

“Please help me draft the closing legal provisions for a living will. This section needs to provide comprehensive legal protection while maintaining the document’s personal integrity. Include:

A statement that elaborate medical arrangements should never be made to rescue from fatal conditions
Declaration that directives are absolute, unconditional, and irrevocable (with right to modify during lifetime)
Clarification that this is voluntary, not against statute, and should not be considered criminal
Assertion of legal right to refuse medical treatment
Protection from legal liability for those following the directives
Confirmation that copies have been provided to healthcare attorneys
Statement about document validity throughout the lifetime, unless modified
Right to execute revised versions or complete revocation
Requirement to share revised versions with healthcare attorneys
Professional closing with witness signature sections
Formal witness statements declaring the executor’s sound mind and lack of coercion

The executor’s name (Rajesh Kumar Sharma)
A dated execution clause (July 2025, Mumbai)
Two witness declarations confirming the executor’s sound mind and absence of coercion, including:
-Priya Mehta, A-204, Shanti Apartments, S.V. Road, Near Railway Station, Andheri West, Mumbai-400058. Mobile: 9876543210, Aadhar: 8529 6347 1825
-Ravi Patel, 15/B, Gokul Society, Malad East, Near Metro Station, Mumbai-400097. Mobile: 9123456789, Aadhar: 7418 5296 3674
A final attestation block for the notary or appropriate authority, with space for signature, stamp, date, and place.

The tone should be legally authoritative but not intimidating. Make it clear this is about protecting everyone involved, the person, their family, and the medical team.“

I submitted the prompt, and Claude waited for the following comprehensive result:

“The essence of this declaration dictates that under no circumstances, any elaborate medical arrangements, no matter how scientific the basis – should ever be made to rescue or extricate me or my life from potentially fatal medical conditions suffered by me at any point of time in future.

These directives expressed by me hereinabove are absolute, unconditional and irrevocable subject however to the proviso that during my lifetime if and when the need arises, I reserve unto myself the right to revoke it or change, inter alia, the names of my family members qua my healthcare attorneys cited above or any directions contained in this writing.

The above narrative which is contemplated as a purely voluntary and pro-active measure following due diligence, is not at all intended as a stipulation against the statute and should not be dubbed a culpable offence and as such cannot be taken to the doorstep of any court except God’s.

Further, this declaration and the directions contained herein are an expression of my legal right to refuse medical treatment and care. I expect and rely on my trust on the above-mentioned parties and make them legally and morally responsible to act in accordance with my directions envisaged herein. The above-mentioned parties should, therefore, be free from any legal liabilities for having followed this declaration and the directions contained herein.

Further, a copy of this directive and healthcare power of attorney has been forwarded to Healthcare Power of Attorney(s) mentioned in this directive.

I declare that this Directive, and my authorisations for Healthcare Power of Attorneys shall be valid and remain in force throughout my lifetime, unless I modify or revoke it.

In any case, I reserve the right to execute a revised version of this document, which makes changes to my directions/wishes, or revoke this document in its entirety. I shall also share copies of the revised version with Healthcare Power of Attorney(s) mentioned in this directive.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I, the testator, have signed this LIVING WILL on this ___th day of July 2025 at Mumbai in the presence of the following witnesses who have attested its execution in my presence.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma

Testator

WITNESS STATEMENT

I declare that the testator who signed and acknowledged this Living Will is personally known to me and that he has signed and acknowledged this Living Will Declaration in my presence, and that he appears to be a person of sound mind and under no coercion, fraud, or undue influence.

[Priya Mehta] A-204, Shanti Apartments, S.V. Road, Near Railway Station, Andheri West, Mumbai-400058 Mob. No. 9876543210 Aadhar No. 8529 6347 1825

[Ravi Patel] 15/B, Gokul Society, Malad East, Near Metro Station, Mumbai-400097 Mob. No. 9123456789 Aadhar No. 7418 5296 3674

This LIVING WILL has been signed by Rajesh Kumar Sharma in the presence of the undersigned and I record my satisfaction that the document has been executed voluntarily and without any coercion or inducement or compulsion.

SIGNED BEFORE ME

(Full name of notary)

APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, STAMP Date: Place:”

“That is comprehensive,” Sabrina said, reading through the final section carefully.

“Look how it addresses every potential legal concern while still maintaining the personal voice we established earlier.”

“What I really appreciate,” I said, highlighting different sections, “is how it creates multiple layers of protection. It protects the person’s right to make these decisions, protects the family from legal liability, and even protects the medical team from prosecution.”

Now I just ask Claude to collate all results and share the final draft with me.

This is the final draft generated by Claude.

We made modifications in red, and this is the final draft with minor changes.

I leaned back in my chair. “So there you have it, five AI-assisted steps that take your client from a blank page to a comprehensive, legally sound, deeply personal living will.

Each section builds on the previous one, creating a document that speaks with his voice while meeting all the legal requirements.”

Conclusion

Two weeks later, Sabrina called me again, but this time, the excitement in her voice was unmistakable.

“You are not going to believe what happened,” she said before I could even say hello.

“Let me guess, your client loved the living will?”

“More than that. When I showed him the AI-generated draft, he read through it twice, then looked up at me and said, ‘This is exactly what I wanted to say, but expressed better than I ever could have.’ We made just a few minor personal adjustments, and he signed it that same day.”

I smiled, remembering our brainstorming session. “That is exactly what we hoped would happen.”

“The whole experience has changed how I think about legal practice,” Sabrina reflected.

“We spent so many years believing that technology would somehow diminish the human element of law. But using AI this way actually amplified the human voice. It helped us say what needed to be said with both legal precision and emotional clarity.”

As I hung up the phone, I realised that our experiment had proven something profound about the future of legal practice.

AI is not here to replace the deeply personal work that lawyers do; it is here to enhance it.

When we use artificial intelligence as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement, we can break through the barriers that often prevent people from expressing their most important wishes clearly and legally.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. What are the key legal requirements for a valid living will in India?
A living will must be executed by an adult of sound mind, voluntarily, and without coercion. It requires attestation by two witnesses and a notary or Gazetted Officer. The document must specify medical conditions (e.g., terminal illness, vegetative state) and treatment preferences (e.g., no ventilators). A medical board must assess the patient’s condition before implementing directives.

2. Can a living will be revoked or modified after it is executed?
Yes, a person can evoke or modify a living will during their lifetime, provided they are of sound mind.

3. How can AI help draft a living will?
AI tools like Claude.ai or Grok can generate structured sections of a living will, including declarations, medical directives, and attorney appointments.

4. Can AI draft a living will in one go?
No, break the process into steps, since single prompts overwhelm the AI, which causes errors.