Advance Health Directives

If you become seriously ill or unconscious or are no longer able to make decisions, you may be unable to communicate your healthcare decisions.

An advance health directive allows you to plan what medical treatment or health care you would like in the event that you cannot make decisions for yourself. An advance health directive also enables you to appoint an attorney for health matters if you wish.

You should carry a card with you stating that you have an advance health directive, and medical staff can refer to the document when needed. You should give copies of your advance health directive to your doctor, family and friends.

Information to include in your Advance Health Directive

If you do not have an advance health directive and become so ill you cannot make decisions or speak for yourself, you have no legal way of making your wishes known about when to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining measures.

By making an advance health directive you can specify what treatment you would like to have or you would like to refuse if you become seriously ill, unconscious, or are no longer able to make your own decisions, and are unable to communicate your health care wishes.

Medical staff will refer to your directive if you can no longer make decisions for yourself. However, doctors have the ability to disregard a direction if it is uncertain, inconsistent with good medical practice or no longer appropriate because circumstances have changed.

You can express your wishes in a general way. For example, you can state:

• particular treatment you do not want
• special medical conditions that your doctor or other medical staff should know about (such as diabetes or allergy to certain medications)
• religious, spiritual or cultural beliefs that could affect your treatment (such as if you have particular views about receiving a blood transfusion).

Life-sustaining measures

Palliative Care

Euthanasia

Advanced Health Directive combined with an Enduring Power of Attorney

If you would like more information about putting an Advance Health Directive in place please contact Cec O'Dea or Trent Wakerley or complete the form on the right hand side and we will contact you shortly.