Advance Care Directives (NSW) - Using

Summary
There is a growing expectation that one's wishes for medical care at the end of life will be respected even if progressive disease takes away decision-making capacity. There is also a need for improved mechanisms whereby an incompetent person's prior wishes about end of life care can be known and considered at the time that treatment decisions need to be made. This guide aims to assist health professionals in discussing advance care planning with patients, and to clarify how to use an advance care directive as part of that process.

Date of Publication: 22 March 2005

Replaces: N/A
Author Branch: Research Ethics and Public Health Training

This document applies to: Area Health Services/Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporation, Board Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Affiliated Health Organisations, Affiliated Health Organisations - Declared, Divisions of General Practice, NSW Ambulance Service, Private Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres, Public Hospitals

Distributed to: Public Health System, Ministry of Health

Review Date: 30 November 2012

Policy Manual: Patient Matters

File No: 03/76-2

Previous reference: N/A

Status: Active

File link: Advance Care Directives (NSW) - Using
File size: 151Kb