EMALB First Responders (FR) Practice EXAM

Is an advance directive a medical order signed by a physician?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if notarized

4. Only for terminal patients

The correct answer is: False

An advance directive is a legal document that allows individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment in case they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacitation. It serves as a guide for healthcare providers and can include specific instructions about medical procedures, internal organ donation, or preferences for life-sustaining treatments. The fundamental nature of an advance directive is that it is not a medical order; rather, it is created by the individual (the patient) without the necessity of being signed by a physician. Although healthcare providers may refer to it when making decisions about treatment, the document itself does not require a physician’s signature to be valid. Therefore, it is incorrect to classify an advance directive as a medical order, which would typically be a directive issued by a physician for the immediate medical care of a patient. Consequently, the assertion that an advance directive is a medical order signed by a physician is inaccurate, reaffirming that the answer is indeed false.