What can an advance care directive do if it cannot request VAD?
An advance care directive cannot request VAD, but it can record treatment refusals, values and who should speak for you if you lose capacity.
An advance care directive can still do important work even though it cannot request voluntary assisted dying (VAD). It can help guide care if you are seriously ill and cannot speak or decide for yourself.
Depending on your state or territory, it may let you refuse certain treatments in advance and record the values that should guide decisions.
General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. Advance care directive forms, names and legal rules differ between states and territories. Get state-specific advice before relying on a document.
It can record treatment choices
You may be able to write that you do not want CPR, ventilation, intensive care, tube feeding, hospital transfer, antibiotics or other treatments in certain situations.
The wording matters. A vague statement may be harder to apply than a clear instruction tied to a health situation.
This can also avoid fighting within a family if there is disagreement about treatments and you are not able to answer for yourself.
It can record what matters to you
You can describe what quality of life means to you, where you would prefer to be cared for, who you want involved, and what would make treatment too burdensome.
These values can help your substitute decision maker and doctors when there is no exact instruction.
It can name the right person
Some states and territories let you appoint a person to make health decisions if you cannot. The title differs: medical treatment decision maker, enduring guardian, attorney or substitute decision maker.
Choose someone who understands your values and can speak calmly with health professionals.
Often additional paperwork will need to be filled to formalise this, so talk to your treating team for more information.
You may also want to read
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Can I refuse antibiotics, hospital transfer, tube feeding or other treatment in advance?
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Who decides when family members disagree about end-of-life care?