Advance health directive
If you become seriously ill, unconscious or are unable to communicate your health care wishes, critical decisions may need to be made. You can make an advance health directive to make your wishes known in case you are in this situation.
The best time to make an advance health directive is now, before any urgent matters arise. However, it is particularly important to make one if:
- you are about to be admitted to hospital
- your medical condition is likely to affect your ability to make decisions
- you have a chronic medical condition that could result in serious complications such as diabetes, asthma or a heart or renal condition.
You can make a directive if you are over 18 and have the capacity to do so. This means that you:
- understand the nature and consequences of your health care decisions
- understand the nature and effect of the directive
- freely and voluntarily make these decisions
- communicate decisions in some way.
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