An advance directive is a written, often legal, statement with a person’s wishes concerning medical treatment. It allows for that person’s wishes concerning their care to be communicated to the doctor even when that person is not able to do so. Advance directives help faithful Catholics to ensure that decisions about their end of life care are carried out according to their beliefs and the teachings of the Church.
Advance Directives resources:
Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions $2.50 download from National Catholic Bioethics Center