Advance directives are best described as

• A. Living will
• B. Power of attorney
• C. A legal document designed to indicate a person's wishes regarding care in case of a terminal illness or during the dying process
• D. DNR (do not resuscitate)

Answer: (C)

Advance directives are legal documents that let a person spell out their preferences for medical care if they become unable to communicate or make decisions. They are especially relevant when facing terminal illness or the dying process. The description that best fits is a legal document designed to indicate a person's wishes regarding care in case of terminal illness or during the dying process. This framing matters because it emphasizes autonomy and planning ahead for scenarios where medical decisions must be made by someone else. An advance directive can include specific instructions about treatments and goals of care and may also designate a health care proxy to make decisions, making it a broader concept that encompasses forms like living wills and durable power of attorney for health care. A DNR is a specific instruction about resuscitation and does not by itself capture the full range of decisions an advance directive covers.