Home Health Aide Practice Exam

What is the term for a legal document that specifies the type of care a person wishes to receive if unable to make decisions?

1. Living will

2. Power of attorney

3. Advance directive

4. Patient consent form

The correct answer is: Advance directive

The correct answer is a legal document known as an advance directive. An advance directive allows individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes due to a medical condition or incapacitation. This document can include a variety of healthcare decisions and can specify what types of medical interventions, if any, a person would want or not want, thereby guiding healthcare providers and loved ones in making decisions that align with the individual's values and desires. A living will is a specific type of advance directive focusing primarily on end-of-life care and medical treatment preferences, such as the refusal of life-sustaining treatments. While closely related, it does not encompass all healthcare decisions. Power of attorney pertains to the legal authority granted to another person to make decisions on someone else's behalf, including healthcare decisions, but it is not a directive that specifies a person's preferences; rather, it designates someone to make those choices. A patient consent form is a document that indicates a patient agrees to a specific medical treatment or procedure after being informed of the risks and benefits, but it does not serve to specify long-term care decisions in the way an advance directive does. The advance directive is vital for ensuring that an individual’s healthcare preferences are honored, especially in critical