Does a Doctor have to follow an Advance Care Plan?

This depends on a number of factors, some of which are: how clear the document is, whether it applies to the decision, and if there is any disagreement among loved ones. Documents should be created in an attempt to resolve these issues.

Sometimes a doctor will not follow a document because of personal beliefs. In this case, institutional policy and often state statute/laws require the doctor to offer transfer of care to another doctor.