Because many of us will be taken to the hospital in times of decline and crisis, how we receive care will be subject to law and bureacracy. We need to think about what we want for ourselves and get paperwork in order before that happens, to maintain as much autonomy as possible.
Questions that need answers (updates and links to resources to come): what if someone is considered too "incapable" by the state to make decisions for themselves in advance? What if a person has no one at all to have conversations with?
Describing values and wishes on paper is good, but they are less effective on their own and do not take the place of communicating your wishes to people in your life. People who would be involved in your care should have a general sense of what is important to you so they can advocate for you.
It is hard, however, to account for every possible decision. Sometimes what you want now isn't what you'd want later. I will link to some tools and resources for understanding what you want and need, and what could be helpful to put in your own ACP.
Because things like changing relationships or health might alter what you want, your ACP is meant to change as well.
You can record your wishes in many forms (writing, take videos of yourself, take photographs, record audio...)
You do not need a lawyer, but you need to fill out forms and have witnesses and signatures.
Representatives must be 19 or older, considered capable, and can't be employed to provide health or personal care for you.
Forms can be found here, BC gov website with links to PDFs
Advance Directives state your consent and/or refusal of specific medical interventions. It is a legal document, but you do not need a lawyer to make an AD. You do need to have witnesses and signatures.
This is different from an Advance Care Plan (ACP), which is not legally binding.
It is also different from a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR), now called a No CPR form. A doctor needs to sign a No CPR form.
IF you did not appoint a representative: when you are incapacitated, there is a hierarchy of family members who are contacted to make medical decisions on your behalf. BC law decides this default hierarchy:
The first person on the list who is available and qualified (over 19, considered capable, not in conflict with you, and in touch with you within the last year) will be your TSDM.
If this is a terrifying prospect for you, consider printing and signing this form to show who you'd like contacted first (and who not to contact at all). However, even though there is space to sign your name, this is not legally binding.
HOME!