People in the Surf Coast have a chance to shape how new historic laws will be implemented to give people greater powers to set directives about their future medical treatment, including end-of-life preferences and wishes.
In a Victorian first, the Andrews Labor Government will deliver on a key election promise and introduce new laws into Parliament this year to protect advance care directives in legislation.
As part of this work, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP is calling for feedback on the Simplifying Medical Treatment Decision Making and Advance Care Planning position paper which will inform how the legislation should be implemented.
An advance care directive is a legally binding document designed to make a person’s preferences for future medical treatment clear when that person no longer has the capacity to make decisions directly themselves.
Existing laws are exceedingly complex and do not provide certainty about how people would like to be supported at the end of their lives.
The Government’s legislation will simplify the law, and make it easier for health professionals to understand their obligations to provide medical treatment in line with people’s preferences, and for patients to have their end-of-life care wishes known and respected.
It will enable people with decision making capacity to prepare an advance care directive outlining the kind of medical care they would want, or that they do not want, administered in the event of current or future conditions such as cancer, brain damage or dementia.
This includes giving binding instructions and describing personal values, appointing a medical treatment decision maker and appointing a support person.
The legislation will take into consideration relevant recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into End-of-Life choices, and the Government will provide a full response to the Inquiry in due course.
The Position Paper can be viewed at www.health.vic.gov.au/acp. Submissions must be sent to acp.responses@dhhs.vic.gov.au by Friday 29 July.
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP
“This Victorian first legislation will ensure patients and their families have their end-of-life care wishes known and respected.”
“End-of-life is a difficult discussion, but it’s a conversation we all must have with our loved ones.”
“I would urge people in the Surf Coast to have their say, and provide feedback on this important issue.”
“We want to ensure that everyone in the Surf Coast has access to the best possible, compassionate end-of-life care which relieves pain and suffering, and supports families and carers.”