Olick, Robert S. Taking Advance Directives Seriously: Prospective Autonomy and Decisions Near the End of Life.

• Position: Book Review

Olick, Robert S. Taking Advance Directives Seriously: Prospective Autonomy and Decisions Near the End of Life. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2004; www.press.georgetown.edu.

This book is an argument about why and how advance directives should be taken seriously. The author develops a theory of prospective autonomy that recasts and reaffirms our commitment to prospective autonomy and advance directives and defends the consensus against these challenges. Another objective is to clarify widespread confusion about the moral and legal weight of advance directives. Following the path of theory into the world of practice, he offers a prescription for emendations in law, policy, and practice that...