Corrections Officer State Certification (SOCE) Practice Exam

Which document would outline a person’s wishes regarding end-of-life care?

1. Power of attorney

2. Living will

3. Advance directive

4. Do-not-resuscitate order

The correct answer is: Advance directive

The correct choice is identified as the advance directive, which serves a comprehensive purpose in end-of-life care planning. An advance directive is a legal document that allows a person to outline their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they might be unable to communicate those preferences themselves. This can cover various scenarios, detailing the types of medical interventions one would consent to or refuse, thereby guiding healthcare providers and loved ones in making decisions aligned with the individual's wishes. While a living will is indeed closely related and details specific wishes regarding medical treatment, particularly in terminal situations, the term "advance directive" encompasses both living wills and other documents, such as powers of attorney, thus making it a broader term that legally encapsulates a person's intent regarding their healthcare. The power of attorney specifically designates someone to make decisions on behalf of another person and does not inherently include specific wishes regarding end-of-life care. A do-not-resuscitate order, while it expresses a specific medical instruction to refrain from resuscitation, is more limited in scope and does not comprehensively cover the entire range of medical treatment preferences that an advance directive does. Therefore, the advance directive is the most encompassing document that can be utilized to express an individual’s healthcare preferences in a variety of situations, particularly