A health care advance directive is a written or oral statement made and witnessed
in advance of serious illness or injury to address medical situations that may arise
when a person becomes unable to make one’s own decisions. Executing an advance directive exercises good stewardship over the gift of life.
There are two forms of advance directives: the designation of health care surrogate,
which authorizes a person to make decisions for the incapacitated patient, and theliving will, which gives instructions to physicians and caregivers regarding medical
care and treatment at the end of life. The Catholic Declaration on Life and Death merges both forms into one directive.
