India, April 8 -- The state government has created a digital platform for citizens to register Advance Medical Directives (AMDs) or living wills in which they delineate their end-of-life choices. Custodians for these wills, preferably medical officers, will be appointed at the local level to facilitate the retrieval of data when the wills are required to be executed. This will help citizens choose their treatment preferences during a terminal illness, prevent disputes, and give legal clarity during critical medical situations.

The state's guidelines encompass detailed procedures for the execution, registration, and safekeeping of living wills. The framework aligns with judicial directions and seeks to institutionalise a transparent, acce...