What is the bottom-line message about the use of heroic measures in hospital care?

To hospital staff, the answer to the question about "heroic measures" tells them what the patient and/or the next of kin will accept as 'standard of care' in the treatment of that patient in the event of a life-threatening state. Most facilities will break it down further to 1. no heroic measures to be taken at all,, 2 hydration and pain relief only, 3 hydration, feeding, and pain relief. and 4. all possible measures taken. In the parlance of today's world, this document may be called an End of Life Directive, Living Will, Do Not Resusitate Order, or Medical Power of Attorney. It all boils down to this-how much effort will be required from the facility by the patient or family to avoid liability for the death of the patient?