True or false: Emergency treatment should not be delayed to search for an Advance Care Directive (ACD) even if one is known to exist.

Emergency treatment should not be delayed to search for an Advance Care Directive (ACD) because the primary responsibility in an emergency situation is to provide immediate care to stabilize the patient and address any life-threatening conditions. An ACD outlines a patient's preferences for medical treatment, but in urgent scenarios, waiting to confirm these wishes can significantly compromise the patient's health outcomes.

The urgency of medical emergencies necessitates prioritizing treatment based on the immediate clinical picture rather than the existence of an ACD. Time delays can exacerbate the condition, leading to potential harm. Additionally, even if a patient has preferences documented in an ACD, these documents are not always comprehensive for every possible emergency scenario, and healthcare providers must use clinical judgment in the moment to provide the best care.

In essence, while ACDs are important for respecting patient autonomy and wishes for treatment, they are secondary to the immediate need to address life-saving interventions in an emergency context.