Completed when a person is capable, advance directives guide future health care decisions when the person has become incapable. Advance directives are based on the ethical principle of respect for auronomy, and are legally recognized in many jurisdictions. Although the advance directives currently available are generic, a disease-specific directive may be useful for people with COPD. In clinical practice, advance directives raise a number of challenging questions: With whom should the topic be raised? Should a proxy or instruction directive be used? What should be done if the patient changes his/her mind about treatment? How should people insure their advance directive is available when needed? A research for advance directives is outlined.