An Advance Health Directive is a document which deals with the management of a person’s health decisions once they lose capacity. It deals with significant health decisions, including life sustaining measures and can be particularly useful in circumstances where a person is in the final stages of a terminal illness.
An Advance Health Directive is often called a “Living Will”.
It is useful because it not only provide clarity to family and Medical providers as to a person’s wishes, but also can help take the guilt out of difficult decisions prior to a person passing.
There is some formality with an Advance Health Directive. It must be created with the cooperation of a person’s Doctor who must sign the document after having consulted with the person. It also needs to be witnessed by an appropriate witness such as a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, Lawyer or Notary Public.
An Advance Health Directive is strongly recommended for anyone who is elderly or who receives a diagnosis of a potentially terminal illness.
Should you need someone to help guide you through the process or discuss your options, please contact us.
Mark Lillicrap
Principal