What is an "advance directive"?

An advance directive is fundamentally a legal document that specifies a patient's preferences concerning medical treatment in circumstances where they may be unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. This document can outline specific types of procedures a patient may wish to receive or refuse, effectively guiding healthcare providers and loved ones in decision-making during critical situations. By documenting these wishes beforehand, patients maintain autonomy over their healthcare decisions, even when they are not able to express them directly.

While the option that refers to appointing a healthcare proxy is valid, it represents just one component of what an advance directive can entail. An advance directive may include the appointment of a healthcare proxy alongside the broader scope of the patient’s medical wishes—making the legal document much more comprehensive than solely focusing on designating someone to make decisions.