A specific directive, written by a physician, about end of life decisions is a/an

• A. DNR order
• B. AND order
• C. Advance Directive
• D. Required reconsideration

Answer: (B)

An Allow Natural Death (AND) order is a physician-written directive that guides end-of-life care, indicating that resuscitation should not be attempted and that the focus is on comfort and allowing the patient to die naturally. This is a formal chart directive tailored to the patient’s situation and is used by the care team to guide decisions across the whole course of end‑of‑life management, not just one intervention.

This differs from an advance directive, which is a document created by the patient outlining future care preferences but not typically a specific order in the chart. It also differs from a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, which specifically addresses withholding CPR; an AND order covers a broader approach to end-of-life care beyond just resuscitation. Required reconsideration, on the other hand, is a policy/process for re-evaluating decisions, not a directive about care itself.