AHCD
Law & Legal abbreviation · Estate and Family Law
| Stands for | Advance health care directive |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
AHCD stands for Advance health care directive, an estate and family law abbreviation.
Written instructions about medical treatment, often including the appointment of a health care agent, that take effect if a person loses the capacity to make decisions. It may address life support, tube feeding, pain relief, organ donation and preferred places of care.
Example: The patient's AHCD named her husband as agent and declined mechanical ventilation.
Usage notes
California uses this name and provides a statutory form in Probate Code § 4701. Other states call similar documents advance directives, living wills or health care declarations. A directive differs from a POLST, which is a physician's medical order for seriously ill patients. Copies should go to the agent and the patient's doctors.
Related abbreviations
More estate and family law abbreviations
- CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocate
- CHINS – Child in need of services
- CLT – Charitable lead trust
- CPS – Child Protective Services
- CRT – Charitable remainder trust
- DAPT – Domestic asset protection trust
- dec'd – Deceased
- DPOA – Durable power of attorney
- DVRO – Domestic violence restraining order
- EPA – Enduring power of attorney
- EPO – Emergency protective order
- FBO – For the benefit of
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This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.