A client says they plan to prepare advance directives before coming to the hospital. Which statement indicates understanding of advance directives?

A client says they plan to prepare advance directives before coming to the hospital. Which statement indicates understanding of advance directives?

• A. Rather have my brother make decisions for me, but know it has to be my wife
• B. I know they won't go ahead with the surgery unless preparing these forms
• C. I plan to write that I don't want them to keep me on a breathing machine
• D. Will get my regular doctor to approve my plan beforehand at the hospital

Answer: (C)

Advance directives let a person spell out preferences for life-sustaining treatments and appoint a surrogate to make decisions if they can’t speak for themselves. Stating that you don’t want to be kept on a breathing machine shows a clear, specific instruction about a life-sustaining intervention, which is exactly what an advance directive or living will provides. It demonstrates understanding of documenting wishes that guide care when you can’t communicate your decisions. The other statements reflect common misunderstandings. Choosing a specific surrogate with conflicting terms doesn’t clearly express a directive about treatments. Believing surgery won’t occur without these forms isn’t accurate in all settings, as advance directives are encouraged but not universally mandatory for every procedure. Thinking a regular doctor must approve the plan beforehand misreads how directives function—the plan is the patient’s stated preferences to be honored, with clinicians reviewing and implementing them as appropriate.

Advance directives let a person spell out preferences for life-sustaining treatments and appoint a surrogate to make decisions if they can’t speak for themselves. Stating that you don’t want to be kept on a breathing machine shows a clear, specific instruction about a life-sustaining intervention, which is exactly what an advance directive or living will provides. It demonstrates understanding of documenting wishes that guide care when you can’t communicate your decisions.

The other statements reflect common misunderstandings. Choosing a specific surrogate with conflicting terms doesn’t clearly express a directive about treatments. Believing surgery won’t occur without these forms isn’t accurate in all settings, as advance directives are encouraged but not universally mandatory for every procedure. Thinking a regular doctor must approve the plan beforehand misreads how directives function—the plan is the patient’s stated preferences to be honored, with clinicians reviewing and implementing them as appropriate.