What is the purpose of advance directives in healthcare?

Advance directives serve as legal documents that outline a patient's healthcare preferences in situations where they are unable to communicate their wishes, such as during a medical emergency or end-of-life care. This documentation can include specific instructions regarding treatments, interventions, and levels of care the patient desires or does not desire. By having advance directives in place, healthcare providers and family members can make decisions that align with the individual's values and wishes, enhancing the ability to respect and fulfill the patient’s desires even when they cannot advocate for themselves.

These directives can include living wills, which specify the types of medical treatments the patient wishes to receive or avoid, and durable powers of attorney for healthcare, which designate someone to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf. Thus, the main purpose of advance directives is to ensure that a patient’s healthcare preferences are known and honored, making option C the most accurate representation of their role in healthcare.