An Advance Health Directive must be signed by which of the following?

An Advance Health Directive is a legal document that allows an individual to express their healthcare preferences in the event that they lose the ability to make decisions for themselves. The validity of such a directive is contingent upon certain criteria, one of which is that it must be signed by a person who has the capacity to make such a decision.

A person over 18 with capacity is capable of understanding the nature and effect of the Advance Health Directive, making their signature valid and the directive legally binding. This capacity involves being able to comprehend the information about the treatment options available, as well as the impacts of those choices on their health and well-being.

In contrast, minors under 16 typically do not possess the legal authority to make such decisions, as they are considered too young to fully understand the implications of their choices. A legal guardian may help in making health decisions for an individual who lacks capacity, but they cannot sign a directive on behalf of someone else unless specifically allowed to do so in the context of medical treatment decisions. A healthcare professional is also not authorized to sign an Advance Health Directive unless they also have the legal capacity and right to do so as a decision-maker for their patient.

Thus, the requirement for an Advance Health Directive to be signed by a person