Advance directives

Advance directives are legal documents that allow an individual to convey their decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They provide a way for individuals to communicate their wishes to family, friends and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.

Definition

An advance directive is a legal document that specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. The phrase "advance directive" refers to a variety of documents, including a living will, a health care proxy (also known as a durable power of attorney for health care), and a do not resuscitate (DNR) order.

Types of Advance Directives

There are two main types of advance directives, living wills and durable power of attorney for health care.

Living Will

A living will is a written, legal document that spells out medical treatments an individual would and would not want to be used to keep them alive, as well as other decisions such as pain management or organ donation.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that names a healthcare proxy, someone to make medical decisions for an individual when they are unable to do so.

Importance of Advance Directives

Advance directives are important as they ensure an individual's beliefs and preferences are respected in medical situations where they are unable to communicate or make decisions. They can also alleviate the burden on family and loved ones in making difficult decisions.

Legal Status

The legal status of advance directives varies from country to country. In the United States, the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) of 1990 encourages everyone to decide their future care needs by providing information and discussing the benefits of advance directives.

See Also

• Patient Self-Determination Act
• End-of-life care
• Health care proxy
• Living will