1. Brief Introduction.An advance health care directive or advance directive is a legal document that tells a doctor a patient's wishes regarding health care. This provides a better chance of receiving the types of treatment that a patient may or may not receive when unable to express their wishes to a doctor or family members. A patient can choose a living will, medical directive, health care power of attorney or surrogate, or a combination of the three.2. Explanation of the subject. Advance directives may include numerous guidelines regarding the patient's preferences regarding a number of life-affecting or end-of-life situations, such as a chronic illness or an accident resulting in a traumatic injury. It may include referrals for other health situations, such as short-term loss of consciousness, impairment due to Alzheimer's disease or dementia. These guidelines may consider a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order in cases of heart or breathing cessation, tube feeding, or organ and tissue donation. The directive may name a specific person, or proxy, to direct care or may be very general with only basic instructions given for treatment if a patient becomes incapacitated. Some states say that if you do not have a written directive, an oral directive is acceptable. An advance health care directive has nothing to do with controlling finances, property, inheritance, or regular wills. This only concerns medical care issues. Any health care directive may be modified, revoked or amended by the patient at any time and must be kept up to date. Potential or future mental health problems can also be addressed in advance through an instrument called a mental health care directive or psychiatric care directive.3. Discussion of the topic. A form o...... middle of paper ...... and choice of medical powers of attorney. Under the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990, health care providers ask their patients about advance directives and provide information about available directives, allowing a conversation between them. Although navigating the abundant and sometimes confusing legal language of advance directives can be time-consuming, it would be beneficial for each person to think through their end-of-life wishes and have some form of written statement that allows their doctor and his family to understand these wishes. Doing this in advance will help you avoid emotional anguish, pain and costly litigation. Ultimately, clear and if possible written documentation of a chosen medical directive, living will, or health care power of attorney will ease the burden on health care professionals and a person's family dying or incapable..