advance directive

noun

plural advance directives

: 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

… the American Medical Association estimates that 15 percent of the population has filled out some type of advance directive specifying what medical treatment they should be given if they are unable to offer guidance, or who will decide for them.

—Susan Moran

Advance directives and hospice care were developed to ensure patients' autonomy and to provide high-quality care at the end of life.

—Ezekiel J. Emanuel et al.

compare dnr, molst, polst

Examples of advance directive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If the individual does not have an advance directive, decisions on medical care generally fall to next of kin, such as a spouse, adult children or parents. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 19 June 2025

Update advance directives and powers of attorney — and share them with family — to avoid emergency decision‑making in crisis mode. —John Samuels, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Medical facilities are required to honor an advance directive. —Anisah Bagasra, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025

The specific documents differ based on the size and complexity of an estate, but the core ones include a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy or advance directive, and possibly a trust. —True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for advance directive

• radioprotective
• stereoselective
• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• corrective
• defective
• detective
• effective
• elective

Medical Definition

advance directive

noun

ad·​vance di·​rec·​tive əd-ˈvan(t)s-də-ˈrek-tiv, -dī- 

: 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 compare dnr entry 2, molst, polst

Legal Definition

advance directive

noun

: a document (as a living will or health care power of attorney) in which a person expresses his or her wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of incapacity