Which statement about advance directives is true?

• A. They must be issued by competent patients.
• B. They must be created only after hospital admission.
• C. They do not require witnesses.
• D. They must be issued by family members.

Answer: (A)

Advance directives are documents that let a person express their choices for medical care if they later can’t communicate or make decisions. The essential idea is that they must be created by someone who has decision-making capacity at the time of signing, so the directives truly reflect the individual's wishes. That’s why the statement that they must be issued by competent patients is true. They aren’t restricted to hospital settings; you can prepare them in advance at home or anytime before a medical decision point. In Texas, a valid advance directive is typically signed by the patient and witnessed by two adults or notarized, ensuring the document accurately represents the patient’s wishes. Family members aren’t required to issue the directive, though they may serve as surrogates or witnesses depending on the form and circumstances.