Advance Care Directives

An Advance Care Directive will usually address the following: –

• What is important to you about your life and health (for example, continuing relationships with family and friends, continuing to be able to see your pets, remaining independent, and religious beliefs etc.)
• Outcomes you wish to avoid (for example, your wishes for healthcare which prolongs life, the situation where you are unable to recognise family and friends, the situation where you are in a coma etc.)
• Your dying wishes (for example, where you would prefer to die, who you would want to be there, religious or cultural traditions, organ donation, your burial or cremation preferences etc.)
• Where you wish to live (for example, whether you wish to remain at home or go into supported care etc.)
• Healthcare you prefer (for example, medical treatment, mental health treatment, emergency care, life-sustaining treatment etc.)
• Other personal arrangements (for example, cultural or spiritual matters, employment, care of children, activities you enjoy, grooming requirements etc.)

An Advance Care Directive can include a binding refusal of healthcare. Your treating medical practitioners and your Substitute Decision-Makers are bound to abide by your refusal of particular healthcare.

For example, in the situation where you are in a coma or a persistent vegetative state, you may wish to refuse the application of life support systems.

You can specify the situations in which you wish for a refusal of healthcare to apply in the Advance Care Directive form.

You are unable to refuse compulsory mental health treatment as specified in a community or involuntary treatment order.

A Substitute Decision-Maker is a person over 18 years old chosen by you to make decisions about your future health care, end of life, living arrangements and personal matters if you are unable to make them for yourself. This person(s) must try to make decisions they believe you would have made for yourself in the same circumstances, had you been able to.

Your Substitute Decision-Maker cannot make legal or financial decisions on your behalf (this can be done by appointing an Enduring Power of Attorney).

A Substitute Decision-Maker is an adult(s) you choose to make decisions about your future health care, end of life, living arrangements and personal matters if you are unable to make them for yourself. This person(s) must try to make decisions they believe you would have made for yourself in the same circumstances, had you been able to.

Your Substitute Decision-Maker cannot make legal or financial decisions on your behalf (this can be done by appointing an Enduring Power of Attorney).

In South Australia any person who fulfils the following criteria can make an Advance Care Directive:

1. 18 years old or over;
2. Know what an Advance Care Directive is;
3. Know what it will be used for; and
4. Know when it will be used.

• An Advance Care Directive usually addresses the following issues:
• What is important to you about your life and health (for example, continuing relationships with family and friends, continuing to be able to see your pets, remaining independent, and religious beliefs)
• Outcomes you wish to avoid (for example, your wishes for healthcare which prolongs life, the situation where you are unable to recognise family and friends, and the situation where you are in a coma.)
• Your dying wishes (for example, where you would prefer to die, who you would want to be there, religious or cultural traditions, organ donation, and your burial or cremation preferences)
• Where you wish to live (for example, whether you wish to remain at home or go into supported care)
• Healthcare you prefer (for example, medical treatment, mental health treatment, emergency care and life-sustaining treatment)
• Other personal arrangements (for example, cultural or spiritual matters, employment, care of children, activities you enjoy and grooming requirements)

An Advance Care Directive comes in to eect upon you becoming of unsound mind. This is determined by a medical professional.

An Advance Care Directive comes to an end in one of the following circumstances:

1. You revoke it formally by subsequently signing another Advance Care Directive (only if you are still of sound mind); or
2. When you die (in which case your Will comes in to eect).