Yesterday’s blog post linked to The Pineapple Project’s podcast on discussions in the ICU and the importance of advanced planning.
Advance Health Directives (or Advance Care Directives for our NSW clients) are an integral part of your estate plan.
An Advance Health Directive enables you to record your wishes or directions concerning your future health care. Those directions will be come effective if you lose the ability to make your own decisions in the future.
Who can make an Advance Health Directive?
Anyone who is over the age of 18 years and is capable of understanding the nature of their directions, and foreseeing the effects of those directions, can generally make an Advance Health Directive.
The purpose of an Advance Health Directive is to give you confidence that your wishes concerning your health care will be carried out if you cannot speak for yourself.
If treatment could prolong your life, what level of quality of life would be acceptable to you?
Your Doctor must help you complete your medical directions and explain the medical terminology to you, the treatment options available to you and the fact of your chosen directions.
Your solicitor will complete the document with you by explaining its legal effect to you and confirming you understand the effect of signing an Advance Health Directive.
You may change your Advance Health Directive at any time while you remain mentally capable of doing so. It is wise to review your directive every two years, or earlier if your health changes significantly. An Advance Health Directive is not a document to be filed away and forgotten.
If you would like to review your existing Advance Health Directive, or make a new one, call or email us here at Willwise for an appointment.