Which instrument authorizes someone to make medical decisions if you cannot communicate, and may include end-of-life preferences?

• A. Advance healthcare directive
• B. Retainer agreement
• C. Hourly fees
• D. Transactional fees or flat fees

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is designating someone to make medical decisions for you when you can’t communicate, and to capture your end-of-life preferences. An advance healthcare directive does exactly that: it names an agent you trust to make medical choices on your behalf and can include your specific wishes about treatments, life-sustaining measures, and other end-of-life considerations. This document ensures doctors and loved ones follow your healthcare wishes even if you’re unable to speak. It’s distinct from billing or fee-related documents—retainer agreements and hourly or flat fees govern how you pay for legal services, not medical decisions or treatment preferences. Some places call this a living will or a durable power of attorney for healthcare, but the core function is the same: empower a person to act for you in medical matters and guide care according to your values.