Unfortunately, during severe illness people are often unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate their wishes at the very time many critical decisions need to be made. By completing an Advance Health Care Directive, you can make your wishes known before this happens.

An Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is a document that states your wishes or directions regarding your future health care for various conditions.

Adults capable of understanding the consequences of their choice are welcome to see if they’re eligible to fill out an AHCD.

You should think clearly about what you would want your medical treatment to achieve if you become ill.

It is strongly recommended that you discuss the AHCD with your doctor before completing it.

The purposes of an AHCD is to give you confidence that your wishes regarding health care will be carried out if you cannot speak for yourself.

As an AHCD ceases to have effect upon your death it does not alter the provisions in your will. The provisions in your will take effect immediately upon your death with your executor(s) having control of your estate affairs.

Your wishes as stated in an AHCD are not final; you can change them at any time while you are mentally capable of doing so.

It is recommended that a copy be placed in safe custody with your solicitor. A copy should also be given to your Doctor, to your enduring guardian and to a close family member. If you are resident in a retirement village, hospital or nursing home a copy should be placed in your file at that facility.

Contributed by the Cootamundra Local Health Advisory Committee (CLHAC), volunteers who advocate for the local community, communicating to the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.

The CLHAC would like to thank Ray Luff of Callan & Luff Solicitors for providing the committee with helpful and relevant information at their last meeting.