Legal Definitions - directive

A directive is a legal document that outlines a person's wishes regarding medical treatment if they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves. It can also refer to a document that designates a surrogate decision-maker for healthcare matters.

• An advance directive is a legal document that designates a person to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated.
• A medical directive is a written document that outlines a person's wishes regarding medical treatment if they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.
• A do-not-resuscitate order is a directive that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the person's heart stops or they stop breathing.

These examples illustrate how a directive can be used to ensure that a person's wishes regarding medical treatment are respected, even if they are unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.