An authorization in advance to withdraw artificial life support is

An authorization in advance to withdraw artificial life support is

• A. living will
• B. advanced directive
• C. power of attorney
• D. Do Not Resuscitate

Answer: (B)

Advance directives are documents created while you’re able to decide, guiding future medical care when you can’t communicate. They can authorize the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in advance, laying out what you want done if artificial life support becomes inappropriate or undesired. This makes them the best fit for an in-advance authorization to withdraw life support, because they set your treatment preferences ahead of time and can also appoint a surrogate if needed. A living will is a type of advance directive focused on end-of-life choices, including withdrawal in some situations, but the broader term is advance directive. A Do Not Resuscitate order is a specific instruction about not performing CPR, not a general authorization to withdraw all life support. A power of attorney for health care designates who decides if you can’t, but doesn’t by itself spell out your treatment preferences.

Advance directives are documents created while you’re able to decide, guiding future medical care when you can’t communicate. They can authorize the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in advance, laying out what you want done if artificial life support becomes inappropriate or undesired. This makes them the best fit for an in-advance authorization to withdraw life support, because they set your treatment preferences ahead of time and can also appoint a surrogate if needed. A living will is a type of advance directive focused on end-of-life choices, including withdrawal in some situations, but the broader term is advance directive. A Do Not Resuscitate order is a specific instruction about not performing CPR, not a general authorization to withdraw all life support. A power of attorney for health care designates who decides if you can’t, but doesn’t by itself spell out your treatment preferences.