Advanced Health Care Directive - Victoria
Leave all your health care information and Directions to express your views on the medical decisions that will be made for you by your medical power of attorney
In Victoria, an Advance Care Directive (ACD) is a legally binding document that allows you to record your preferences and instructions for future medical treatment, should you lose decision-making capacity. This directive is recognized under the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016.
Components of an Advance Care Directive
An ACD in Victoria can include:
Instructional Directive: Legally binding instructions about specific medical treatments you consent to or refuse. Health practitioners must follow these directives when you cannot make decisions yourself.
Values Directive: A statement outlining your personal values and preferences regarding medical treatment. This guides your medical treatment decision maker and health practitioners when making decisions on your behalf.
Required Information
To complete an ACD, you must provide:
Your full name, date of birth, and address.
Details of your current major health conditions.
Your values and preferences for medical treatment.
Specific instructions about treatments you consent to or refuse (if including an instructional directive).
Witnessing Requirements
An ACD must be signed in the presence of two adult witnesses:
One must be a registered medical practitioner.
Neither witness can be your appointed medical treatment decision maker.
Witnesses must certify that you have decision-making capacity and understand the content of the directive.
Additional Considerations
You can appoint a medical treatment decision maker to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.
You can also appoint a support person to assist you in making, communicating, and giving effect to your medical treatment decisions.
An ACD can be revoked or updated at any time while you have decision-making capacity.