An advance directive is a legal document that allows individuals to make decisions about their healthcare in advance. It is a way for individuals to communicate their wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care, in case they become unable to make those decisions themselves.
Definitions
An advance directive, also known as a living will or healthcare directive, is a legal document that outlines an individual’s wishes for medical treatment and end-of-life care. It is used to communicate these wishes to healthcare providers and family members in the event that the individual becomes incapacitated or unable to make decisions for themselves.
Origin
The concept of advance directives originated in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, as a response to the growing concern about the use of life-sustaining treatments in patients with terminal illnesses. The first state to pass legislation allowing for the use of advance directives was California in 1976.
Meaning in different dictionaries
- Merriam-Webster: a legal document that allows a person to state in advance the kind of medical care they would like to receive if they become unable to make their own decisions.
- Oxford English Dictionary: a document in which a person specifies the type and extent of medical treatment to be administered in the event of their becoming incapacitated or otherwise unable to express their preferences.
- Cambridge Dictionary: a legal document that states what medical treatment someone wants if they become too ill to make their own decisions.
Associations
Advance directives are often associated with end-of-life care and decisions about life-sustaining treatments such as mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition and hydration, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. They are also associated with the right to refuse medical treatment and the principle of patient autonomy.
Synonyms
- Living will.
- Healthcare directive.
- Medical directive.
- Advance healthcare directive.
- Personal directive.
- Directive to physicians.
Antonyms
– No antonyms found for advance directive as it is a legal document and not a concept that has an opposite.
The same root words
The same root words for advance directive are “advance” and “directive.”
Example Sentences
- My grandfather had an advance directive that stated he did not want to be kept alive on life support if he had no chance of recovery.
- It is important to have an advance directive in place in case of unexpected medical emergencies.
- The hospital requires all patients to have an advance directive on file.
- Sarah’s advance healthcare directive specified that she did not want to be resuscitated if her heart stopped.
- It is recommended that individuals review and update their advance directives regularly to ensure they reflect their current wishes.