Overview

• The clinic helps individuals over 18 articulate medical treatment preferences, including resuscitation and ventilator support decisions for when they cannot communicate.
• Under a Supreme Court judgment and 2023 guidelines, living wills now require nominations of at least two decision-making custodians.
• A Bombay High Court order led Maharashtra to appoint 413 custodians across all districts, including two in Mumbai, to hold living will documents.
• Clinic sessions include counselling, assistance in drafting, legal notarisation with two witnesses and distribution of copies to custodians, families and healthcare providers.
• The Maharashtra government is required to launch an online living will registration portal by mid-August to streamline advance directive filings.