What is an Advance Directive and why do I need one?
A. Advance Directive is the general term that refers to a person’s verbal and written instructions about future medical care, in the event the person becomes unable to speak for him or herself. Advance directives give you a voice in decisions about your medical care when you are unconscious or too ill to communicate. As long as you are able to express your own decisions, your advance directive will not be used and you can accept or refuse any medical treatment. But if you become seriously ill, you may lose the ability to participate in decisions about your own treatment without an advance directive.
