Safeguarding Ireland is leading a public awareness campaign which has launched in the past week – with the aim of encouraging more people to make an Advance Healthcare Directive. A key driver of this will be organisations and health and social care professionals encouraging people to make one, particularly if they are using healthcare services and if their future capacity may be at risk.
What is an Advance Healthcare Directive?
An Advance Healthcare Directive is a document in which to record future healthcare decisions including refusals and consents on treatment, surgery, medicines and resuscitation.
Having one is an important part of protecting rights and ensuring that our wishes will be respected if in the future we didn’t have decision-making capacity to make certain healthcare decisions. Having one is also better for doctors and families.
Safeguarding Ireland recommends that all adults, and particularly those using healthcare services or if capacity may become a challenge, make one and share a copy with those who need to know about it.
How to Make One
Access and complete (free of charge) one of the two excellent Advance Healthcare Directive templates available at:
- The Decision Support Service website – www.decisionsupportservice.ie
- The Think Ahead website – www.thinkahead.ie
WHY make one?
Research carried out by Safeguarding Ireland has found that just 4% of adults have an Advance Healthcare Directive, which is very low by international standards.
Having one is an important part of protecting rights and ensuring that our wishes will be respected, for if in the future we didn’t have decision-making capacity to make certain healthcare decisions.
Having one is also better for doctors and families.
For more information click HERE
