A legal statement reflecting a patient's health wishes is known as what?

A legal statement reflecting a patient's health wishes is known as an advance directive. This document outlines a person’s preferences regarding medical treatment in scenarios where they may become unable to communicate those wishes themselves, such as in cases of severe illness or incapacitation.

Advance directives can encompass various elements including living wills, which specifically address medical treatments and interventions a person chooses to accept or decline. However, the term "advance directive" is broader and includes both living wills and health care proxies, which appoint someone to make decisions on behalf of the patient. This distinction makes it clear that an advance directive encompasses all forms of documented health care wishes and decisions relevant to a patient’s care.

Understanding this terminology is crucial for any medical professional, particularly when navigating legal and ethical considerations in patient care.