Advance health care directive
An instrument that allows an adult to appoint one or more others to make certain health care decisions on behalf of the adult. The adult who creates the advance health care directive is often called the “declarant.” The one or more other adults appointed by the declarant are often called “agents.” Although all States recognize one or more instruments for delegating health care decision-making authority, the terms and rules vary. For example, the term “advance health care directive” may be shortened to “advance directive” or may be interchangeable with other terms like “medical power of attorney,” “power of attorney for health care,” or “health care proxy.” In some States, the term “advance directive” is an umbrella term that includes both a medical power of attorney and a “living will”.
