What is a Healthcare Directive?
- Ruth
- Sep 30
- 1 min read
The term "Healthcare directive" can be used interchangeably with several other names, including:
Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD)
Living Will
Advance Directive
Medical Directive
At our firm, we refer to these documents as Healthcare Directives. These documents memorialize your wishes for what type of medical care you want or do not want if you are unable to speak for yourself due to a serious illness or injury. Healthcare Directives can cover life-sustaining measures like artificial nutrition or respiration. They can also include your personal, ethical, or religious values to guide your healthcare team and ensure your quality-of-life priorities are honored. They might include language regarding pain management, experimental medical treatments, and POLST forms.