TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Medical-Legal Concepts: Advance Directives and Surrogate Decision Making A1 - Armstrong, Kelly A1 - Silverman, Ross D. A2 - McKean, Sylvia C. A2 - Ross, John J. A2 - Dressler, Daniel D. A2 - Scheurer, Danielle B. PY - 2017 T2 - Principles and Practice of Hospital Medicine, 2e AB - Advance directives, such as living wills, health care powers of attorney, do-not-resuscitate orders, and mental health care directives, are written legal documents that offer patients the opportunity to reflect upon and provide direction for their future medical care. They are important and useful tools to facilitate discussions between patients, family members, and physicians about end-of-life care choices, and they provide guidance and legal protection in those situations when a patient is no longer capable of declaring care preferences, when critical and difficult treatment decisions need to be made. Following an advance directive facilitates making end-of-life care decisions at the patient’s bedside rather than through contentious court proceedings. More importantly, advance directives are legal mechanisms that reinforce the fundamental professional and moral responsibility of health care providers and institutions to promote and protect patient autonomy, welfare, and dignity. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1137607165 ER -