Advance Care Planning
ACP is about people taking control of their health care wishes now, and in the future. This is especially relevant near the end of life. By choosing to do this planning, you ensure that your specific treatment wishes as well as your goals, values and beliefs are known, and can be respected by health care providers and those closest to you.
The culmination of the advance care planning process is usually the creation of a document known as an Advance Care Directive (ACD). This is a medical plan which documents the type of health care and/or treatment/s, you may or may not wish to receive if you do become seriously ill and/or are no longer able to communicate. An Advance Care Directive formalises and legalises your Advance Care Plan.
The application of these plans vary from state to state and reviewing this website is the best way to fully inform yourself: https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/
The ACD is a decision-making framework designed to guide and support your chosen decision maker in advocating for your preferences and choices. The terminology for the role of decision maker, and the forms required to appoint them, differs from state to state:
Australian Capital Territory
- Term: Guardian
- Document: Enduring Power of Attorney (covers both personal/health and financial matters)
New South Wales
- Term: Enduring Guardian
- Document: Appointment of Enduring Guardian
Northern Territory
- Term: Decision Maker
- Document: Advance Personal Plan (you appoint a Decision Maker/s)
Queensland
- Term: Enduring Power of Attorney (covers both personal/health and financial matters)
- Document: Enduring Power of Attorney (you nominate an attorney/s for personal/health matters)
South Australia
- Term: Advance Care Directive (since 2018, previously referred to as Medical Power of Attorney)
- Current Document: Advance Care Directive (you can appoint one or more Substitute Decision-Maker/s)
Tasmania
- Term: Enduring Guardian
- Document: Appointment of an Enduring Guardian
Victoria
- Term: Medical Treatment Decision Maker (since 2018)
- Document: Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Maker
- Previously called: Enduring Power of Guardianship (no longer used)
Western Australia
- Term: Enduring Guardian
- Document: Enduring Power of Guardianship
An important part of the ACP process is discussing your choices and the reasons for making them with your family and close friends. It is advisable to also consult with your Health Care Provider/s as part of this planning process.
When making an ACD there are many important things to consider, and discuss with your people. What follows is not an exhaustive list, however you could include thoughts and decisions about:
- Resuscitation
- Treatments, medications or interventions that may prolong life
- Dialysis
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Blood transfusions
- Biopsies
- Surgery
- Life support systems
- Intravenous fluids and/or drugs
- Tube feeding
- Naso-gastric feeding
- Mobility
- Stroke
- Heart Attack
- Dementia
- Degenerative diseases
- Organ Failure
- Paralysis
- Malignant diseases
- Pain management
- Palliative care
- Voluntary assisted dying (VAD)
- Antibiotics