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What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning simply means thinking ahead about your future medical care, discussing it with your family and doctor, and recording it — so that your wishes are understood and respected even if you cannot express them at the time.

What is an Advance Medical Directive?

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is the legal document — popularly called a Living Will — in which you write down those future medical wishes. In it you can:

• Accept or refuse particular treatments.
• Choose someone to make decisions for you if you cannot.

Who can make one?

• Anyone above 18 years of age.
• Anyone who is mentally capable of making the decision.
• Not only people who are ill — you don't have to be sick to make one.

When is it useful?

• Serious illness, such as cancer or organ failure.
• Conditions that affect thinking, such as Alzheimer's or coma.
• Emergency situations — whenever you cannot speak for yourself.

What can you decide?

An AMD lets you give direction on specific treatments, including:

• Ventilator support, CPR and feeding tubes.
• Dialysis, surgery and chemotherapy.
• Whether you want full care, limited treatment, or comfort care.

You can also clearly ask for things — pain relief, comfort care, symptom control, and dignified care at the end of life. The focus throughout is quality of life.