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Advance Directives
- Article from:
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Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying
- Author:
- LENS, VICKI
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Advance Directives
An advance directive is a statement that declares what kind of lifesaving medical treatment a patient wants after he or she has become incompetent or unable to communicate to medical personnel. Advance directives, which are recognized in every state, are a response to the increasing ability of physicians since the 1950s to delay death through an array of medical technology, such as respirators, feeding tubes, and artificial hydration. This ability to prolong life has led to the need for doctors, patients, and patients' families to make decisions as to whether such technology should be used, especially in those situations when the patient is either near death, ...