An advance directive allows a patient to specify who can make health care decisions if they become unable.

An advance directive allows a patient to specify who can make health care decisions if they become unable.

• A. Who can decide medical care
• B. Financial investments
• C. Schedule for treatments
• D. Insurance coverage

Answer: (A)

Advance directives center on who speaks for you about medical care when you can’t speak for yourself. They let you name a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf (a health care proxy) and, if you want, to record your treatment preferences. This ensures that if you become unable to communicate, those decisions reflect your wishes and are carried out by someone you trust. Financial matters, such as investments, are handled by a different type of document, and scheduling treatments or arranging insurance coverage aren’t the primary focus of a health care advance directive.

Advance directives center on who speaks for you about medical care when you can’t speak for yourself. They let you name a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf (a health care proxy) and, if you want, to record your treatment preferences. This ensures that if you become unable to communicate, those decisions reflect your wishes and are carried out by someone you trust. Financial matters, such as investments, are handled by a different type of document, and scheduling treatments or arranging insurance coverage aren’t the primary focus of a health care advance directive.