Advance Directives Useful or Useless [Video]

When patients sign Advanced Directives — also known as Living Wills and Advance Care Planning — they may assume their wishes about medical decisions will be followed as intended if they are unable to make decisions themselves. But recent research shows that Advance Directives do not ensure medical treatment lines up with patients’ wishes at the end of life. Nor do they improve patient quality of life. Among the reasons for this gap is confusing or vague language that is easily misinterpreted. This session is for healthcare professionals who have opportunities to review Advance Directives with their patients and clients, but it will be of interest to anyone who has an Advance Directive or loves someone who does.