Which legal document allows a patient to make decisions about their own healthcare?

The correct choice, which is an advance directive, is a legal document that enables individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment and healthcare decisions in the event that they become unable to communicate those preferences themselves. This direct control over one’s healthcare decisions ensures that the individual's wishes are respected, guiding healthcare providers and family members in the decision-making process during critical times.

An advance directive typically includes instructions about various medical treatments and choices regarding life-sustaining measures, making it a comprehensive tool for patients to assert their autonomy and values regarding healthcare. It is a critical instrument in the management of care, as it bridges personal beliefs with medical practice, ensuring that care aligns with the patient's desires.

While the other options involve elements of healthcare decision-making, they do not encapsulate the same breadth of patient autonomy as an advance directive. A living will is a type of advance directive specifically focusing on end-of-life decisions but doesn't cover broader healthcare preferences. A power of attorney designates someone to make decisions on behalf of another person, which may not always reflect the patient's specific wishes unless they are aligned with the documented directive. A healthcare proxy also designates a person to make decisions for the individual but is more focused on appointing a representative rather than detailing specific wishes regarding treatment