What is true regarding advanced directives?

Advanced directives are legal documents that allow individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they may be unable to communicate their wishes. The key aspect of these directives is that they must be honored by healthcare providers, reflecting the principle of patient autonomy. This means that if a patient has clearly stated their healthcare preferences in an advance directive, those wishes should be respected and followed by the medical team, irrespective of the patient's current state.

Honoring advanced directives ensures that patients receive care aligned with their personal values and choices, which is a vital part of ethical medical practice. In contrast, the other options suggest that advanced directives may not hold importance or relevance across certain demographics or circumstances, which does not align with established medical ethics and laws regarding patient care.