What does an advance directive typically include?

An advance directive typically includes preferences for health care when one cannot communicate. This legal document allows individuals to express their wishes regarding medical treatment and interventions if they become unable to communicate those decisions themselves due to illness or incapacity. It often outlines specific instructions on medical care, such as preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and end-of-life care options.

By clearly articulating these preferences, advance directives serve to guide healthcare professionals in making decisions that align with the patient’s values and wishes. This helps ensure that the individual's healthcare choices are respected, even in situations where they are unable to voice those choices directly. The emphasis on patient autonomy and the importance of informed consent is central to the function of an advance directive in healthcare settings.

The other options mentioned do not accurately represent the main purpose of an advance directive; they either focus on aspects that are not part of such documents or misunderstand the role of advance directives in healthcare planning.