What are advance directives used for in healthcare?

Advance directives are legal documents that allow individuals to outline their healthcare preferences in situations where they may be unable to communicate their wishes, such as in cases of severe illness or incapacitation. This ensures that a person's desires regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care are respected, even when they cannot voice them directly. By having clear directives in place, healthcare providers have guidance on the patient's wishes, which can help prevent confusion and ethical dilemmas at critical moments.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the purpose of advance directives. For instance, they do not diminish legal responsibilities for healthcare providers; rather, they provide clarity in adhering to the patient’s wishes. Additionally, advance directives do not deal with the distribution of a patient's estate after death or provide information about a patient's insurance coverage, as these matters relate to estate law and financial decisions, respectively.