An advance directive commonly includes a living will and a power of attorney. What is this document called?

An advance directive commonly includes a living will and a power of attorney. What is this document called?

• A. Health care power of attorney
• B. Advanced directive
• C. Palliative care
• D. Brain death

Answer: (B)

An advance directive is the document that captures a patient’s treatment preferences for times when they can’t participate in decisions, and it typically includes both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. The living will spells out which treatments should or shouldn’t be used in specific medical situations, while the durable power of attorney designates who will decide for the patient if they lack capacity. Together, these parts guide medical care and ensure the patient’s wishes are respected. Other terms describe parts of this arrangement or unrelated concepts—such as the person designated to make decisions, or areas like comfort-focused care or the clinical status of brain death—so they don’t encompass the whole document. The document described is an advance directive.

An advance directive is the document that captures a patient’s treatment preferences for times when they can’t participate in decisions, and it typically includes both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. The living will spells out which treatments should or shouldn’t be used in specific medical situations, while the durable power of attorney designates who will decide for the patient if they lack capacity. Together, these parts guide medical care and ensure the patient’s wishes are respected. Other terms describe parts of this arrangement or unrelated concepts—such as the person designated to make decisions, or areas like comfort-focused care or the clinical status of brain death—so they don’t encompass the whole document. The document described is an advance directive.