A system and method can store and retrieve advance directives with a
database that is coupled to a communications system. The database is
arranged to register and store information about a service provider in
anticipation of future creation of advance directives that will come into
at least the temporary possession of the service provider. The database
is arranged to store information supplied by the service provider and
about a person and the person's advance directive. The communications
system is operable in response to a request by the service provider to
automatically transmit information about one or more advance directives
that were stored in the database by the service provider.