General Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)

The General Advance Healthcare Directive

Advance healthcare directives (living wills) are documents created, while a person is competent, that define the treatment that person wishes to receive or refuse should they become incompetent in the defined circumstances.

They also stand as a clear statement of that person's philosophy regarding end of life issues and an indicator of persistence of view over time. Such statements should be revisited from time to time, particularly in accordance with possible changing circumstances. If specific illnesses develop, the directive can be modified to more specifically address that illness.

An advance healthcare directive can be rescinded at any time should you change your mind.

General Advance Healthcare Directive (232Kb PDF).

Example completed Directive (223Kb PDF).

If you would like specific information about your medical treatment rights and help with filling out any of our forms, why not attend one of our workshops?

More Specific Additional Cover

In addition to the General Advance Directive, DWDV also offers specific Advance Directives for particular illnesses, where the General form may not provide cover to the degree you would like.

Completing a specific Advance Directive may provide greater protection for your treatment — or refusal of — wishes, to be respected and followed.

Specific Advance Directives are available to DWDV members for:

• Nursing home residents
• Alzheimer's disease and dementia
• Motor neuron disease
• HIV

Any specific Advance Directive you complete should be attached to your General Advance Directive.

------

Note: If you wish to have a copy of the General Advance Directive mailed to you, there is a small $10 handling and postage fee.