Advance directive

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Advance directive

An Advance directive (pronounced: ad-vans di-rek-tiv) is a legal document that specifies what actions should be taken for a person's health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity. The term "Advance directive" is generally used as a synonym for living wills or durable power of attorney for health care.

Etymology

The term "Advance directive" is derived from the words "advance," meaning to move forward, and "directive," meaning an official or authoritative instruction. It was first used in the medical context in the late 20th century, as a way to describe legal documents that allow individuals to convey their decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time.

Related Terms

  • Living Will: A legal document that a person uses to make known his or her wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatments.
  • Health Care Proxy: A person appointed to make healthcare decisions for someone else who is unable to do so.
  • End-of-life care: The support and medical care given during the time surrounding death.
  • Incapacity: The inability to understand information or make decisions about your health.

See Also

External links

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