advance directive
noun
: a legal document (such as a living will) signed by a competent person to provide guidance for medical and health-care decisions (such as the termination of life support or organ donation) in the event the person becomes incompetent to make such decisions
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The medical power of attorney form is called an advance directive in Kentucky. 
Sean Scott, The Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2022 The organization End of Life Washington has created a 23-page dementia advance directive. New York Times, 12 Jan. 2022 Did Bovier want to write an advance directive that would instruct doctors about intubation, CPR and other lifesaving measures, to save her children from deciding those issues in an emergency? The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Nov. 2021 Here’s the lowdown on how involuntary holds work, how to protect yourself and where to get that template to start your psychiatric advance directive. Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2021 But the most important document in the binder is your advance directive. New York Times, 9 Jan. 2021 Despite existing in some form since the 1970s, only 37% of Americans report having formalized their wishes through an advance directive. L.s. Dugdale, STAT, 27 Nov. 2020 That situation isn’t easily addressed in advance directive. Julie Washington, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2020 Many clients are concerned about how their advance directive, also known as a living will or physician’s directive, works in times like these. Houston Chronicle, 21 Aug. 2020 See More
Sean Scott, The Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2022 The organization End of Life Washington has created a 23-page dementia advance directive. New York Times, 12 Jan. 2022 Did Bovier want to write an advance directive that would instruct doctors about intubation, CPR and other lifesaving measures, to save her children from deciding those issues in an emergency? The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Nov. 2021 Here’s the lowdown on how involuntary holds work, how to protect yourself and where to get that template to start your psychiatric advance directive. Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2021 But the most important document in the binder is your advance directive. New York Times, 9 Jan. 2021 Despite existing in some form since the 1970s, only 37% of Americans report having formalized their wishes through an advance directive. L.s. Dugdale, STAT, 27 Nov. 2020 That situation isn’t easily addressed in advance directive. Julie Washington, cleveland, 25 Nov. 2020 Many clients are concerned about how their advance directive, also known as a living will or physician’s directive, works in times like these. Houston Chronicle, 21 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1979, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
advance directive
noun
ad·vance di·rec·tive əd-ˈvan(t)s-də-ˈrek-tiv, -dī- 
: a legal document (as a living will) signed by a living competent person in order to provide guidance for medical and health-care decisions (as the termination of life support and organ donation) in the event that the person becomes incompetent to make such decisions
Legal Definition
advance directive
noun
: a document (as a living will or health care power of attorney) in which a person expresses his or her wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of incapacity