When Advance Directives Collide

Excerpt

Increasingly, patients are encouraged to document their fundamental values and preferences for their healthcare in legal forms known as advance directives. These documents assist patients in ensuring that their values and healthcare preferences are known and respected when they are unable to make medical decisions for themselves, especially at the end of life. While appropriate for virtually every individual at any stage of adult life, these documents are especially beneficial for those with chronic illnesses and those at the end of life, as these individuals have more frequent and substantial hospitalizations and are more likely to encounter scenarios where they are unable to make medical decisions for themselves. In recent years, advance directives have become more prevalent and utilized by patients. The most recent study in 2017 estimates that approximately 36.7% of Americans have filled out some form of advance directive, including around 38.2% of Americans with chronic illnesses.¹ …