advance directive

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of advance directive

: a legal document (such as a living will) signed by a competent person to provide guidance for medical and health-care decisions (such as the termination of life support or organ donation) in the event the person becomes incompetent to make such decisions

Recent Examples of advance directive from the Web

The city of LaCrosse, Wisconsin began a coordinated effort to encourage advance directives in the 1980s.

— michael k. mcintyre, cleveland.com, "Sharing his final wishes among Dad's greatest gifts: Michael K. McIntyre," 29 Apr. 2018
The case, attorneys for Ana Romero said, illustrates the need for advance directives in California.

— richard winton, latimes.com, "Judge rules that spouse has authority to remove partner's life support if there's no directive," 12 Mar. 2018
Read about how to prepare healthcare advance directives.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "Planning for long-term care," 25 Apr. 2018
Charities, advance directives and odds and ends For many people, especially dual-income couples with no kids who might have substantial assets to spread around, this is the moment to discuss charitable bequests.

— john schwartz, New York Times, "What It Was Like to Finally Write My Will," 3 Apr. 2018
Herbst will provide free 30-minute personal appointments to answer questions related to completing legal documents such as advance directives and durable power of attorney, as well as homeowner association, credit or other issues.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Veterans Assoc. of N.C. gets $100,000," 19 Mar. 2018
Carlsbad attorney Jeff Herbst offers free 30-minute personal appointments to answer questions about completing legal documents such as advance directives, durable power of attorney, as well as homeowner association, credit or other issues.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Boys & Girls Club receives 10K plus more community news," 8 Jan. 2018
Carlsbad attorney Jeff Herbst will provide free 30-minute personal appointments to answer questions relating to legal documents regarding advance directives, durable power of attorney, homeowner association, credit and other issues.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Church group serves dinner at shelter... more community news," 16 Feb. 2018
Learn about advance directives, living wills, medical power of attorney, and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders.

— Houston Chronicle, "Fort Bend County calendar of events," 5 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'advance directive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of advance directive

1979

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary