Source: https://wearabledocs.com/compare/refusal-of-anatomical-gift-vs-advance-directive Refusal of anatomical gift · Advance directive # Refusal of anatomical gift vs advance directive They operate at different times and neither one does the other's job. An advance directive speaks for you while you are alive and cannot speak for yourself. A refusal of anatomical gift operates after death. The difference that matters ## Having one of these does not give you the other. Side by side ## What each one is, and when it operates Refusal of anatomical gift What it is Refuses donation of your organs, eyes and tissue, and bars anyone else from authorizing it on your behalf. When it operates Operates after death. Rests on your state's anatomical gift act, which gives a signed refusal its own section. Advance directive What it is Refuses specific treatments while you are alive. You choose which: vaccines, blood, or both, and exactly how far each refusal goes. When it operates Operates while you are alive, including when you cannot speak for yourself. Also easy to confuse ## Other comparisons **[Refusing Donation vs. Removing Yourself from the Donor Registry](https://wearabledocs.com/compare/refusal-of-anatomical-gift-vs-leaving-the-donor-registry)** Coming off the registry, or taking the mark off a license, removes a yes. It does not record a no. **[Refusing vaccines vs refusing blood on a WearableDocs record](https://wearabledocs.com/compare/vaccine-refusal-vs-blood-refusal)** Only one of the two is part of the document you signed. **[Wallet card vs engraved bracelet](https://wearabledocs.com/compare/wallet-card-vs-engraved-bracelet)** The card needs no engraver, no minimum width and no fiber laser. [Every comparison](https://wearabledocs.com/compare) Your state ## What your own state requires A refusal only works if it is on the form your state recognizes. See [your state’s organ donation refusal](https://wearabledocs.com/states) and [your state’s advance directive](https://wearabledocs.com/advance-directives).