Which document specifies a patient's wishes concerning end-of-life care?

The document that specifies a patient's wishes concerning end-of-life care is known as an advance directive. This important legal document allows individuals to express their preferences for medical treatment and care should they become unable to communicate these wishes in the future, particularly during critical or terminal situations.

Advance directives can include instructions about life-sustaining treatments, preferences for palliative care, and the designation of a healthcare proxy who can make decisions on the patient’s behalf. This empowers patients and ensures that their values and desires are respected, providing clarity to family members and medical professionals during difficult times.

In contrast, a treatment plan outlines the medical interventions proposed for a patient's condition, a medication list provides details on medications being prescribed or taken, and a discharge summary documents the patient’s hospital stay and instructions for follow-up care. While all these documents serve vital functions in patient care, none of them specifically address personal wishes regarding end-of-life scenarios like the advance directive does.