Stockton & Kandt, LLC
By Glenn Stockton
June 24th, 2025
When you start thinking about end-of-life planning, you may hear a lot of terms that sound similar. One question many people ask is whether a living will is the same as a DNR order.
Both deal with medical treatment decisions, but they serve different purposes. A living will reflects your broader wishes about life-sustaining treatments. A DNR order gives a clear, immediate instruction in an emergency. Both can be part of your planning, but they do not serve the same role. It’s important to understand how these documents work, when they apply, and how to use them in your estate plan. Each one helps you maintain control, but only if it’s prepared and communicated correctly.
A Living Will Explains Your Treatment Preferences
A living will is a written legal document that lets you share your preferences about medical treatment if you become unable to speak for yourself. In Kansas, this document is officially called a “declaration” under the Natural Death Act.
You use it to state your wishes regarding life-sustaining care when you are in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious.
Your living will can say that you do or do not want interventions like mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, or CPR in those situations. It covers a range of medical decisions and gives your health care providers and family members guidance if you can no longer communicate.
It only takes effect when two doctors agree that you meet the legal standard. Until that point, your instructions remain on standby.
A DNR Order Is a Specific Medical Directive
A Do Not Resuscitate order, or DNR, is very different. This is not an estate planning document. It is a medical order issued by your doctor and placed in your medical records. It tells emergency responders and hospital staff not to attempt resuscitation if your heart stops or you stop breathing.
DNR orders are extremely specific. They only apply to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). They do not cover other treatments like antibiotics, IV fluids, or pain relief.
A DNR order must be signed by both you and your physician. It must also meet the requirements set out by state regulations to be valid outside of a hospital setting.
People often request DNR orders when they are in frail health or have a serious illness and want to avoid aggressive measures during a crisis. Without a valid DNR order, emergency responders are legally required to try to revive you.
