What does "advance directives" refer to in healthcare?

Advance directives are legal documents in the healthcare setting that allow individuals to specify their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they may be unable to communicate those preferences due to illness or injury. This includes decisions about life-sustaining treatments, preferences regarding resuscitation, and other critical medical decisions. By outlining these wishes in advance, individuals empower their healthcare providers and families to make informed decisions that align with their values and desires.

This legal framework ensures that a person's healthcare decisions are respected, even when they are no longer able to voice those decisions themselves. Advance directives serve as a critical tool for promoting patient autonomy and safeguarding the right to make personal healthcare choices. They can take various forms, including living wills and durable power of attorney for healthcare.

Verbal instructions or casual conversations about medical preferences, while potentially meaningful, lack the legal standing that advance directives carry. Additionally, standards for emergency equipment usage and protocols for patient transport pertain to operational guidelines within healthcare practices, rather than personal medical treatment preferences.