ACT advance care planning, health directions and enduring powers of attorney
In the ACT, advance care planning commonly uses an Enduring Power of Attorney, Statement of Choices and Health Direction.
In the ACT, advance care planning commonly uses three documents: an Enduring Power of Attorney, a Statement of Choices and a Health Direction. Together, they can record who should speak for you, what matters to you, and any formal refusal of treatment.
General information: This page gives general information for people in the ACT. It is not legal advice. If a decision is urgent, disputed or unclear, ask the treating team, the Public Trustee and Guardian, ACAT or a lawyer.
The three documents
ACT Government guidance says an advance care plan may include:
- an Enduring Power of Attorney, which gives legal authority to someone to make decisions when you cannot
- a Statement of Choices, which records your values, wishes and treatment preferences
- a Health Direction, which is a formal refusal of specific medical treatments
The names matter because each document does a different job.
A person may use one, two or all three documents depending on what they need. The Enduring Power of Attorney is about who can decide. The Statement of Choices is about values and preferences. The Health Direction is about refusing specified treatment.
Enduring Power of Attorney
An Enduring Power of Attorney can appoint someone to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. The ACT document can cover health, personal care, property and financial matters, depending on how it is completed.
Choose someone who can listen to medical information, stay calm under pressure and speak for your values, not only their own wishes.
Talk with the person before appointing them. They need to know what matters to you and be willing to act if doctors ask for a decision during illness, injury or the final stage of life.
Statement of Choices
A Statement of Choices helps others understand what matters to you. It may describe what quality of life means to you, what treatment you would or would not want, and what outcomes would be unacceptable.
It is especially useful when the medical situation is not exactly the one you imagined.
For example, it may explain whether being able to recognise family, communicate, live outside hospital, avoid severe distress, or have comfort-focused care would matter most to you.
Health Direction
An ACT Health Direction gives a formal refusal of specific medical treatment. ACT Government guidance says it must be followed as soon as it is completed. It is best to complete it with advice from your treating doctor so the refusal is clear and medically meaningful.
Where to keep documents
Give copies to your attorney, GP, treating team, hospital, aged care home and close family if you are comfortable doing so. ACT Government guidance also refers to uploading advance care planning documents to MyDHR and My Health Record.
Review the documents when your health changes, after a hospital admission, before major treatment, when moving into aged care, or when the person you appointed can no longer act.
You may also want to read
- What is an advance care directive?
- Can I decide not to return to hospital?
- When should I call 000 for someone receiving palliative care?