An Advance Directive May (or May Not) Ensure Wishes Are Carried Out

Stories about the importance of advance care planning (ACP) are printed every day in mass media newspapers, magazines, and journals across the United States.  Earlier this week, the Orlando Sentinel ran a story titled, An Advance Directive Ensures a Person's Wishes Are Carried Out.

Those familiar with the literature know that this title makes a false promise.  Advance directives can increase the probability that wishes are carried out, but they can hardly "ensure" it.  

What surprised me was that the article explicitly recognized this limitation.  One of the FAQs is "What happens if my family doesn't want to follow my living will?"  The response:  "It depends.Hospitals may bow to the wishes of the family if they push strongly to continue life support."