Final answer:
Advance directives are legal documents that allow a dying patient to instruct the doctor to withhold treatments that might prolong life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legal documents that allow a dying patient to instruct the doctor to withhold treatments that might prolong life are known as advance directives. These documents include a living will and a durable power of attorney for healthcare. A living will is a written statement that specifies the medical treatments an individual wishes to receive or not receive if they become unable to communicate their decisions. A durable power of attorney for healthcare appoints someone to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient when they are unable to do so themselves.
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