What is the primary purpose of advanced directives?

What is the primary purpose of advanced directives?

• A. To prevent care
• B. To ensure wishes are known in advance to guide care
• C. To reduce medical costs
• D. To schedule end-of-life care

Answer: (B)

Advanced directives are records that communicate a person’s treatment preferences for times when they can’t speak for themselves. The primary purpose is to ensure those wishes are known in advance and used to guide decisions about medical care, so the care provided aligns with the patient’s values and goals. They often include who should make decisions (a healthcare proxy) and what treatments are desired or not desired, such as resuscitation, life-sustaining measures, and comfort-focused care. This isn’t about preventing all care, reducing costs, or scheduling end-of-life care; it’s about guiding care in line with what the patient values.

Advanced directives are records that communicate a person’s treatment preferences for times when they can’t speak for themselves. The primary purpose is to ensure those wishes are known in advance and used to guide decisions about medical care, so the care provided aligns with the patient’s values and goals. They often include who should make decisions (a healthcare proxy) and what treatments are desired or not desired, such as resuscitation, life-sustaining measures, and comfort-focused care. This isn’t about preventing all care, reducing costs, or scheduling end-of-life care; it’s about guiding care in line with what the patient values.