ADVANCE CARE DIRECTIVE
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Sometimes referred to as a “living will” or an “advance health directive”, an Advance Care Directive a legal document and is essentially a formal advance care planning document which is a critical step in ensuring a persons end of life care.
Advanced Care Directives are treated differently across the Australian States and territories, and so if you require legal advice on how an advanced care directive might help you or a family member, contact our expert lawyers today for a free, honest consultation.
What is an advance care directive?
Advance care directives set out your end-of-life plan and contain your needs, values, and preferences. They will generally form the basis for the appointment of a substitute decision-maker, such as an enduring guardian or enduring power of attorney, in the event that you lose the mental capacity to make your own decisions on important personal matters such as health care decisions, future medical treatment decisions, palliative care, mental health care, and treatment refusal preferences (such as resuscitation).
If you or a family member anticipate the loss of mental capacity will require the appointment of a substitute decision-maker in the future, it is well worth considering whether an advance care directive might be put in place first, in order to ensure the persons preferences are accounted for in any significant personal decisions which are made on their behalf.
Any health professional or family member will be bound by an advance care directive, provided it is valid. It is also worth considering adding your advance health directive to your My Health Record, which allows treating healthcare professionals who are providing you with treatment, to consult your health record and comply with the directive.
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For more information on how advance care directives work in different Australian States and Territories, visit the Advance Care Planning Australia website, or contact our NSW lawyers for advice on who to speak to
How do you make an advance care directive?
A person is eligible to make an advance care directive only if they are over 18 years of age and have decision-making capacity, which refers to your capacity to make general personal decisions about important lifestyle and healthcare matters such as legal issues, medical and health care decisions, financial issues and other personal matters.
While an advanced care directive does not need to be completed with the help of a lawyer, it is usually advisable to engage with a lawyer in order to ensure that the directive achieves the result you wish to achieve.
The first step is to speak to a healthcare professional who is able to provide you with formal advice about what your current medical treatment needs are, as well as the potential future health care needs might be.
Generally, advanced care directives will include any of the following specific directives which will determine who is able to make decisions on your behalf, and what kinds of decisions can be made:
the person (usually a loved one, family member or close friend) who you would like to appoint as your substitute decision-maker;
anything which might be important to you that might inform how you would make the relevant decisions for yourself (i.e. your personal values, goals and preferences); as well as
details of any treatment or care that you wish to receive, or would refuse, in the event of any life-threatening illness or injury (such as a “do not resuscitate” directive).
Advance Care Planning Australia has a number of forms and fact sheets available on their website, including an Advance Care Directive Form, which will assist with the development and drafting of a directive. Once the directive has been completed (including your signature and date of the document), relevant parties such as your substitute decision-maker and your doctor should also sign the document itself. This will create a valid advanced care directive that is a legal document and enforceable at law.
It is worth providing copies of the document itself to anybody you feel appropriate, including family members, carers, the substitute decision maker, any relevant healthcare providers such as your hospital, GP, medical professionals, the relevant State Department of Health, and the ambulance service.
Can I change an advance care directive?
You are able to change an advance care directive at any time, and a directive may also be subject to revocation if you no longer require it. It is in fact encouraged that you review the contents of any directive on an ongoing basis, in order to ensure that your goals, values, preferences, health information, as well as your substitute decision-maker and medical treatment requirements are still accurately serviced by the document itself.
How do I choose a substitute decision-maker?
Choosing a substitute decision maker is central to ensuring your advance directive is effective and services your needs, given that person will be able to make important personal decisions on your behalf. Ideally, the decision-maker should be a carer, loved one or family member who is over the age of 18 who you trust. That person must also be available to you and listen to your needs as they might evolve over time.
Importantly, that person must also be comfortable with making significant, often very difficult decisions about your treatment and future health care.
In some circumstance, it may be worth appointing a second substitute-decision maker who will be able to make decisions in circumstances where your primary substitute decision-maker is unable to do so.
The appointment of a substitute decision-maker will be done by filling out the relevant form. This form will differ based on the Australian State or Territory in which you live.
Speak to a lawyer today
Advance Care Directives (or “living wills”) are a significant legal document which enable a person to appoint a substitute decision-maker to make important personal decisions on their behalf, not dissimilar to enduring powers of guardianship. If you have any questions about how an advance care directive works, or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly lawyers for a free, honest consultation today.
Disclaimer
The above is general legal information and should not be considered legal advice. You should contact our law firm for legal advice tailored to your specific legal matter. The courts deal with matters on a case-by-case basis. It should also be noted that there may be court delays due to COVID-19 and alternative arrangements made for legal proceedings.
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions.
An advance care directive is an important result of Advance Care Planning.
It lets people know what healthcare and treatment you wish for, should you find yourself in a position where you are seriously ill or injured and not able to make decisions. Having an Advance Care Directive will make it easier for your loved ones and health staff if they need to make decisions for you.
Making an Advance Care Directive is an important part of Advance Care Planning. None of us know what will happen in the future or can predict what might happen with our health. Medical advances mean that there are treatments
which can keep you alive when you are seriously ill or injured, and which may prolong your life.
Some people have firm ideas about how they want to live the rest of their life, including conditions or treatments that they might find unacceptable.
In a crisis your family may find it difficult to decide what treatment is best for you. An Advance Care Directive will help your family and doctors to know what you would want when you are not able to tell them yourself. It’s best to write your Advance Care Directive so that your wishes are clearly recorded.
First, think about what kind of care you would like to receive or refuse and who would be best suited to make decisions on your behalf. Finally consider where you would like to be cared for if you were dying.
Doctors and health care professionals will only look at your Advance Care Directive if you are unable to make or communicate decisions about your healthcare and treatment.
Your Person Responsible must refer to your Advance Care Directive before making any medical or health decisions.
Before acting on any instructions that your Advance Care Directive may contain about your treatment or care, doctors will assess if it is valid.
Part of that assessment is understanding whether it applies to your current situation.
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