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: Health Research and Ethics

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

Distributed to: NSW Department of Health

Review Date: 22 March 2010

File No: 03/76-2

Previous reference: N/A

Status: Active

File link: Advance Care Directives (NSW) - Using
File size: 154Kb