Final answer:
An Advance Directive is the legal document that outlines a patient's wishes for life-saving procedures when they cannot verbalize their decisions, possibly including a DNR order and appointing a health care proxy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A medical assistant should identify an Advance Directive as a legal document that states the life-saving procedures a patient authorizes in the event they are incapable of verbalizing their desires for medical treatment. An Advance Directive may include a Living Will, which details specific medical interventions the patient wishes or does not wish to receive, such as a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order. It may also designate a health care proxy, which is a legal document appointing a specific person to make medical decisions on the patient's behalf if they are unable to speak for themselves.
In circumstances where one's ability to communicate is lost, these documents ensure that individual preferences are respected and that decisions are not left to family or medical practitioners without guidance. They are especially relevant in cases involving terminally ill patients or those who may desire to die with dignity without invasive life-sustaining treatments that do not improve the quality of life.