What best describes an advanced directive?

What best describes an advanced directive?

• A. A legal document outlining a person’s preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care when they cannot communicate.
• B. A list of all medications a person will take for life.
• C. A document that assigns financial duties to a healthcare agent.
• D. A plan that requires all terminally ill patients to receive full treatment.

Answer: (A)

An advance directive is a legal document that lets a person specify their wishes for medical treatment and end-of-life care for times when they can’t communicate or make decisions themselves. It may name a health care proxy to speak for them and outline what kinds of treatments they want or don’t want, such as decisions about life-sustaining measures. This ensures their values guide care even if they’re too ill to express them. It’s not a list of medications, not a financial power-of-attorney, and not a plan that requires all patients to receive full treatment. When you’re assisting someone, look for and respect any advance directive and follow the facility’s policies to honor those stated preferences.

An advance directive is a legal document that lets a person specify their wishes for medical treatment and end-of-life care for times when they can’t communicate or make decisions themselves. It may name a health care proxy to speak for them and outline what kinds of treatments they want or don’t want, such as decisions about life-sustaining measures. This ensures their values guide care even if they’re too ill to express them. It’s not a list of medications, not a financial power-of-attorney, and not a plan that requires all patients to receive full treatment. When you’re assisting someone, look for and respect any advance directive and follow the facility’s policies to honor those stated preferences.