What may occur if an Advance Directive is unavailable during a medical crisis?

In a situation where an Advance Directive is unavailable during a medical crisis, medical professionals often resort to default procedures that lean towards preserving life. This practice reflects the ethical principle of "do no harm," which is foundational in medical care. Without clear instructions from the patient regarding their preferences for treatment options—such as whether they wish to receive life-sustaining measures—healthcare providers may assume that aggressive treatment is warranted to ensure the patient's survival.

This assumption stems from the difficulty in determining a patient's wishes when there is no documentation available to guide decision-making. In the absence of specific directives outlining the patient's desires, healthcare professionals may initiate life-sustaining treatments, as these actions generally align with the standard protocols for emergency care, aimed at stabilizing the patient and preventing death.

Other choices may involve processes like consulting family members or reporting to legal authorities, but without an Advance Directive, the primary course of action usually hinges on the presumption that the patient would prefer to receive all possible treatments.