Main navigation

Advance Care Plans

The information on this page is reproduced with permission from Austin Health's Respecting Patient Choices Program.

Quick Links to State/Territory-specific materials:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning is a process enabling a patient to express wishes about his or her future health care in consultation with their health care providers, family members and other important people in their lives. Based on the ethical principle of patient autonomy and the legal doctrine of patient consent, advance care planning helps to ensure that the concept of consent is respected if the patient becomes incapable of participating in treatment decisions.

Singer PA, Roberston G, Roy DJ. Bioethics for clinicians: 6. Advance care planning, CMAJ 1996;15(12):1689-1692.

Advances in medical technology have given medicine the ability to prolong life through artificial or mechanical means. These advances have created their own dilemmas, especially when the treatments may be of limited or no benefit to the patient. Doctors and family can find themselves having to decide for the patient when to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments when the patient can no longer communicate their own decision. Advance care planning enables a patient's wishes and views to influence this discussion and decision.

Patients have the right to make decisions about their health care, now and for the future. Decision-making about medical treatment should involve being fully informed about their condition and treatment and, after being informed, some patients may choose to accept or refuse the treatment offered to them. An Advance Care Plan offers the patient an opportunity to say now what life-prolonging medical treatment they would and would not want in the future. If in the future the patient is unable to express their wishes about treatment, their doctor and family will know what they would have wanted or how they would have liked the choices to be made.

In summary, advance care planning is a process of assisting individuals to:

• understand their medical condition and potential future complications
• understand the options for future medical care as it relates to their current health condition
• reflect upon their goals, values and personal beliefs
• consider the benefits and burdens of current and future treatments
• discuss choices with family/important others and health providers, and document these choices.

Australian Capital Territory

	Advance care plan competent person PDF 44Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Advance care plan introduction PDF 43Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Enduring power of attorney form PDF 129Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

New South Wales

	Advance Care Directive PDF 24Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Enduring Guardian appointment form PDF 35Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Using Advance Care Directives PDF 150Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Guidelines for end-of-life care and decision-making PDF 163Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Enduring Guardian information PDF 800Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Northern Territory

	Advance Care Plan information sheet PDF 39Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Statement of Choices PDF 33Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Natural Death Act PDF 9Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Queensland

	Advance Care Plan Contact Information sheet PDF 18Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Advance Health Directive PDF 269Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Enduring Power of Attorney information sheet PDF 267Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

South Australia

Advance Care Plan PDF 87Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Tasmania

	Enduring Guardianship information PDF 120Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Enduring Guardianship appointment form PDF 70Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Victoria

	Advance Care Plan PDF 70Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Advanced Care Plan for Person Lacking Decision Making Capacity PDF 83Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Western Australia

	Advance Care Plan information sheet PDF 34Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Statement of choices PDF 31Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.
	Advance Care Plan contacts sheet PDF 68Kb - Less than 1 minute to download on a 56K modem.

Publication Date: 8 August 2008
Authorised By: Quality Care