What term describes the method by which a patient communicates his/her health care wishes in advance of becoming unable to make decisions?

What term describes the method by which a patient communicates his/her health care wishes in advance of becoming unable to make decisions?

• A. Living will
• B. Do Not Resuscitate
• C. Advance directive
• D. Health-care proxy

Answer: (C)

An advance directive is the method by which a patient communicates their health care wishes in advance of becoming unable to make decisions. It’s the umbrella term for documents that spell out preferences for treatment and, if needed, designate a surrogate decision-maker. A living will is a type of advance directive that specifies what treatments you want or don’t want in certain situations, while a health-care proxy is the person chosen to make decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated. A Do Not Resuscitate order, on the other hand, is a specific instruction about CPR and isn’t by itself the broad method for communicating all wishes.

An advance directive is the method by which a patient communicates their health care wishes in advance of becoming unable to make decisions. It’s the umbrella term for documents that spell out preferences for treatment and, if needed, designate a surrogate decision-maker. A living will is a type of advance directive that specifies what treatments you want or don’t want in certain situations, while a health-care proxy is the person chosen to make decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated. A Do Not Resuscitate order, on the other hand, is a specific instruction about CPR and isn’t by itself the broad method for communicating all wishes.