WHAT IS AN ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE?

An instruction recording the medical care preferences an adult individual wishes to opt for if they become incapacitated, it guides the family and healthcare providers

- Narayan Krishnamurthy

When it comes to medical treatment, informed decisions by patients are a must. Healthcare providers need to seek consent or informed agreement from the patient before procedures or treatment can be imparted.

However, this process presumes that the patient is competent to make decisions and has understood the possible risks and the outcomes of the procedure or treatment. With ageing, and sometimes near the end of life, a patient may not be able to make informed decisions.