Which statement about advance directives and surrogates is true?

Which statement about advance directives and surrogates is true?

• A. An advance directive must always appoint a surrogate.
• B. An advance directive may appoint a surrogate and guide care when incapacitated.
• C. A surrogate is always required even if the patient has capacity
• D. A living will is the same as an advance directive

Answer: (B)

Advance directives let patients plan for future medical decisions by stating preferences and, if needed, naming a decision-maker to act when they can’t speak for themselves. The important point is that appointing a surrogate is optional: an advance directive may include a surrogate to step in when incapacity occurs, and it may also guide care even without naming one. This is why the statement is true: an advance directive may appoint a surrogate and guide care when incapacitated. It recognizes both components—designating who makes decisions and outlining what kinds of care should be provided or foregone if the patient can’t decide. Other options don’t fit as well. An advance directive does not have to appoint a surrogate; you can have clear instructions without naming a proxy. A surrogate is not always required if the patient has capacity. And a living will is a type of advance directive focusing on end-of-life wishes, but it is not the same as an advance directive that may also include appointing a healthcare proxy or broader instructions.

Advance directives let patients plan for future medical decisions by stating preferences and, if needed, naming a decision-maker to act when they can’t speak for themselves. The important point is that appointing a surrogate is optional: an advance directive may include a surrogate to step in when incapacity occurs, and it may also guide care even without naming one.

This is why the statement is true: an advance directive may appoint a surrogate and guide care when incapacitated. It recognizes both components—designating who makes decisions and outlining what kinds of care should be provided or foregone if the patient can’t decide.

Other options don’t fit as well. An advance directive does not have to appoint a surrogate; you can have clear instructions without naming a proxy. A surrogate is not always required if the patient has capacity. And a living will is a type of advance directive focusing on end-of-life wishes, but it is not the same as an advance directive that may also include appointing a healthcare proxy or broader instructions.