Advance directives or advance care plans tell doctors your care wishes – what you do and don’t want – if you can’t make or communicate decisions. 

If certain criteria occur, like a permanent and severe loss of mental or physical capacity, are met – directives can include instructions to withdraw care, such as not receiving life-support, treatment, antibiotics or artificially administered food and fluids that would otherwise keep someone alive.

Medication to relieve pain and ensure comfort, even if it might accelerate someone’s passing, can also be requested.

So in the case of an accident, a medical event or with some medical conditions, friends, family or your Enduring Power of Attorney can give your directive to medical professionals who will then know what medical care you do or don’t want, should you be unable to make or communicate decisions. 

Make sure a copy of your directive is with your GP, lawyer, at your home and with your family and / or support people.

Anyone over 18 with mental capacity can make an advance care plan. Its best to make a written directive with a doctor, so they can explain and sign to confirm it’s valid – meaning you made it of your own free will, that you were competent to do so and that you understood the instructions in your directive.

Currently, an advance directive is like a will and remains valid indefinitely. However, like a will, reviewing your care plan with a doctor every 3 years or so will strengthen it – giving family, friends and medical teams confidence to act on it, knowing the directive represents your current views.

This isn’t a right to die petition.  End of Life Care is when a person requests medical assistance to end their life at a point in time of their choosing.  

This is about people having the right to choose what care they want. A directive is a patient’s informed consent and represents their right to autonomy. 

This can include withdrawing care that would otherwise keep them alive, such as life-support, treatment, antibiotics or artificially administered food and fluids, where it is clear directive conditions – such as a severe loss of mental or physical capacity – have been met.

Medication to relieve pain and ensure comfort, even if it might accelerate someone’s passing, can also be requested.