Can I request VAD in an advance care directive?
You cannot make a future VAD request through an advance care directive because VAD must be requested by the person while they have capacity.
No. In Australia, an advance care directive cannot make a voluntary assisted dying (VAD) request for the future. VAD must be requested by the person themselves while they have decision-making capacity and meet the legal criteria.
An advance care directive can still be very useful. It can record what treatment you would or would not want if you later cannot speak for yourself.
General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. VAD and advance care planning laws differ between states and territories. Confirm current rules with Advance Care Planning Australia, your state or territory health service, a lawyer, or the relevant VAD service.
Why an advance directive cannot request VAD
VAD laws require a current, voluntary and informed request. The person must be assessed by authorised doctors. They must usually make several requests over time and be able to withdraw at any point.
An advance care directive speaks for you later, when you may no longer be able to decide or communicate. That does not fit the VAD process.
What you can include instead
You can use advance care planning to say what matters to you. You may be able to refuse treatments such as CPR, ventilation, tube feeding, hospital transfer or antibiotics in certain situations, depending on your state or territory law and the wording used.
You can also appoint the right substitute decision maker, where your state or territory allows this.
You may also want to read
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What can an advance care directive do if it cannot request VAD?
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Can I refuse antibiotics, hospital transfer, tube feeding or other treatment in advance?