An advance directive serves multiple purposes, including appointing a healthcare proxy, documenting end-of-life care preferences, and providing instructions for organ donation.

A DNR order is a medical order written by a physician, not a type of advance directive.

A healthcare proxy can be a spouse, family member, friend, neighbor, or healthcare professional, as long as they are competent and willing to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the individual.

The legal status of advance directives varies from state to state, so it's important to check the laws in your state to ensure your wishes are legally enforceable.

An advance directive can be created at any time, but it's a good idea to do it as soon as possible after turning 18 or when diagnosed with a serious illness or admitted to a hospital.

A living will only applies to end-of-life care decisions, while a durable power of attorney for healthcare applies to all healthcare decisions, including those related to life-sustaining treatment.

An advance directive can be revoked at any time by the individual who created it, either orally or in writing.

Healthcare providers play a crucial role in advance care planning by educating patients about advance directives, helping them create advance directives, and ensuring that advance directives are followed.

Discussing advance directives with family members is important to ensure that everyone is aware of the individual's wishes, to avoid conflict and confusion among family members, and to provide emotional support to the individual.

Informed consent, patient autonomy, and self-determination are all legal terms that refer to the right to make decisions about one's own healthcare.

A healthcare proxy is appointed by the individual to make healthcare decisions on their behalf, while a guardian is appointed by the court to make all legal decisions for an individual who is deemed incompetent.

A POLST form (Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a medical order that documents a patient's end-of-life care preferences.

Substituted judgment is the legal principle that allows healthcare providers to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment based on a patient's advance directives, assuming that the patient would have made the same decision if they were competent.

Guardianship, conservatorship, and power of attorney are all legal terms that refer to the process of making decisions on behalf of an individual who is unable to make their own decisions.

Having an advance directive in place ensures that your wishes are respected, avoids conflict and confusion among family members, and provides peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.