What are advance directives?

• A. Advance directives are a form of medical insurance.
• B. Advance directives are written instructions that allow patients to outline their healthcare choices or designates someone to make those choice for them (healthcare surrogate/proxy).
• C. Advance directives are hospital admission forms.
• D. Advance directives are only for end-of-life care.

Answer: (B)

Advance directives are written instructions that allow patients to outline their healthcare choices or designate someone to make those choices for them (a healthcare surrogate or proxy). They typically come in two forms: a living will, which specifies which treatments the patient does or does not want if they can’t communicate, and a durable power of attorney for healthcare, which names a trusted person to decide on medical care when the patient is incapacitated. These directives protect patient autonomy, guide clinicians and families, and help ensure care aligns with the patient’s preferences across a range of situations—not just at the end of life. They are not medical insurance, nor hospital admission forms, and while they often touch on end-of-life issues, their scope covers more than just that.