At some point, you may be unable to make decisions regarding your own healthcare. If you wish to have a say in this, you'll need an advance health directive.
Having to make an unexpected life or health decision is surprisingly common. The reason why nobody realises it is so common is because people do not talk about this and doctors do not talk about it.
Family conversations about making unexpected life or end of life decisions is very traumatic.
Less than 15% of Australians have documented their preferences about their health care according to Advance Care Planning Australia.
What is an Advance Health Directive?
At some point in the future you may be unable to make decisions about your health care and special health care, even temporarily. This might be due to an accident, dementia, stroke or mental illness.
An Advance Health Directive lets you (the “Principal”) give directions about your future health care. It allows your wishes to be known and gives health professionals direction about the treatment you want.
You can also use an Advance Health Directive to appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your health care on your behalf. This person is called your “attorney” and you can appoint more than 1 if you choose. They do not need any legal or medical experience to carry out this role.
An Advance Health Directive essentially expresses your views, wishes and preferences for your future health care. You need to think very carefully about what “living well” means to you now and what health outcomes and quality of life would, and would not, be acceptable for you in the future.
Advance Health Directives can be used in circumstances such as:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Assisted ventilation in order to keep you breathing
Artificial nutrition or hydration
Blood transfusions and blood products
Palliative care
Intensive care
Having an Advance Health Directive has benefits which include:
Entrusting someone you trust with legal authority to make health decisions for you;
It may avoid family conflict by making it clear who you want to make decisions for you; and
You can ensure the person making the decisions for you understands your views, wishes and preferences about your health care.
WHERE TO SOURCE HELP WITH ADVANCE HEALTH DIRECTIVES
You need to give very careful consideration to the making of an Advance Health Directive. An Advance Health Directive is a very important legal document that can significantly affect your legal rights. It is always recommended that you choose your attorney very carefully and seek legal advice before committing 1 (or more) people to the designated role.
For further information on Advance Health Directives contact John and the team at JDS Lawyers today.