It is important to plan for your future health care, and to discuss your preferences and values with your family, friends and healthcare team in case there comes a time when you are not able to speak for yourself. This process is called advance care planning.
Advance care planning can be started at any time, whether you are healthy or ill. Many people find that advance care planning helps them feel more prepared for the future and gives them peace of mind.
Learn more about:
Overview
Many people also find their attitudes and preferences for medical care change as they get closer to death, and they may need to revisit their decisions regularly.
Issues to consider
For some people, quality of life is more important than length, but for others, it may be the reverse. Health professionals must give patients the best care they can. Sometimes, a treatment is unlikely to help and may even cause harm. In these cases, doctors are supported by the law and medical rules to not start treatment, or to stop treatment.
This may happen even if a patient or their family wants the treatment to continue or begin. If this happens, it is important to talk with the senior doctor looking after you. You can also ask for a second opinion.
Talk about your preferences
Discussing these issues will help others understand your goals, values and beliefs, and can reduce distress for family members. It makes disagreements about your care less likely, including whether to keep you alive using any means possible or to focus on your comfort.
Learn more about Advance care planning.
You might like to use one of Palliative Care Australia’s discussion starters. or visit Advance Care Planning Australia and search “starting the conversation
What advance care planning can involve
- Reflecting on and talking about what is important to your quality of life
- Discussing your wishes and preferences for your care
- Deciding what treatments you may or may not want, including where you want to receive care (e.g. in hospital or at home if possible) including an advance care directive and appointing a substitute decision-maker.
For more information about advance care planning, call Advance Care Planning Australia 1300 208 582 or visit advancecareplanning.org.au.
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Fiona Wiseman, Senior Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Grace Berwald, Consumer; Peta Brydon, Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, NSW; Kate Bunyan, Social Worker, Psychosocial Lead, Cancer and Palliative Supportive Care, Canberra Region Cancer Centre, ACT; Hayden Christie, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director Cancer Care Service and Clinical Lead of the VAD Service for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Claire Davies, Spiritual Care Practitioner, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Joanne Dean, Nurse Practitioner, PEACE Team, Clare Holland House, ACT; A/Prof Michael Franco, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Medicine Physician, Deputy Head – Monash Medical School, Monash University, VIC; Dr Sally Greenaway, WSLHD Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, Senior Staff Specialist Clinical Haematology and Clinical Ethics Service, NSW; Maree Grier, Clinical Psychologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Mattesse Kitchin, Consumer; Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia; A/Prof Joel Rhee, Head of Discipline of General Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW.
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