1. What is an Advance Care Directive?
2. Why complete an Advance Care Directive?
3. Who can make an Advance Care Directive?
4. Is an Advance Care Directive legally binding?
5. Who should be advised of the Advance Care Directive?
6. What should I consider before making an Advance Directive?
1. What is an Advance Care Directive?
- Advance Care Directives are sometimes called Advance Health Care Directives or Health and Personal Care Directives. This is a document which sets out your preferences for palliative, prophylactic or rehabilitative care should you be faced with various medical conditions in your life. It would come into effect only if you are unable to make decisions for yourself regarding your own health and welfare. Alternatively you may wish it to apply only if you are terminally ill.
2. Why complete an Advance Care Directive?
- Everyone has a right to accept or refuse health care according to their wishes and desires. No problem exists while a person is able to communicate and speak for themselves.
- Unfortunately when severe illness or injury occurs, people may be unconscious or mentally incapable and unable to advise their wishes, critical decisions may need to be made regarding their health and personal care.
3. Who can make an Advance Care Directive?
- Anyone over the age of 18 years who is capable of understanding the nature and extent of their directions and comprehending the effect of those directions on their health and personal care.
4. Is an Advance Care Directive legally binding?
- Currently no law exists in New South Wales which specifically deals with such a directive. The New South Wales Health Department guidelines to the medical profession make it clear that Advance Care Directives should be taken into consideration and doctors should be guided by them.
- For more information, please visit the NSW Health website: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2004/pdf/adcare_directive.pdf
5. Who should be advised of the Advance Care Directive?
- Your Enduring Guardian should be made aware that an Advance Care Directive has been completed and the document should be held with your Enduring Guardianship document. You should discuss the contents of the directive with your immediate family, as well as your general medical practitioner.
6. What should I consider before making an Advance Directive?
- A person must clearly comprehend what they would want medical treatment to achieve if they were to become seriously or terminally ill, or suffer a debilitating injury. Consideration must be given to what quality of life would be acceptable if treatment is able to prolong life, how important it is for you to be able to communicate with family and friends, and what technology may be available in the future for treatment under certain conditions.
