Encouraging Australians to plan their future medical care

More than 75 community and health sector organisations from across Australia have joined forces for National Advance Care Planning Week to promote awareness of a poorly understood public health issue.

Together they are asking all Australian adults, young and old, to plan for a scenario where they are unable to make their own medical decisions. With more Australians living longer, the initiative aims to demystify and 'normalise' conversations around death and dying.

Around a third of people will be unable able to make their own end-of-life medical decisions, yet few people take the active steps required to?retain?control of their future medical care.

Advance care planning helps people to clarify their values and preferences, preparing themselves and their loved ones for a time when they can no longer communicate.

"Most of us expect to have a say in our medical treatment, however a sudden event, or gradual health decline may leave people with without a voice or a choice, if no plan is in place," said Dr Chris Moy, vice-president of the AMA and ambassador for Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA).

"Less than 15 per cent of Australians have an advance care directive. This means that millions of Australians are unaware that they have given up their ability to control their own destiny should they lose decision-making capacity. This leaves their loved ones with the burden of making heart-breaking decisions blindly. No family should have to go through that," said Dr Moy. 

Have you created an advance care directive for your family? Have you encouraged others to make an advance care directive?

1 comments

Who do you put in charge if you have no family or relatives, friends are as old as I am, .  I have an accountant to act as my

executor, but no one to manage the health/finances.  any suggestions?

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