title: Interpretation of an ambiguous advance directive.
abstract: Advance directives are statements made by a person who is capable of making decisions regarding health care choices that need to be applied at a future time when the person may no longer be capable of decision making. A patient may present a life-threatening condition with an ambiguous advance directive, and a delay in decision making could compromise the patient outcome. This article describes a case and includes an analysis of a situation where there is an ambiguous advance directive. Suggestions to the critical care nurse are provided.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged