Advance Care Planning (ACP)

Commence discussion with patients on Advance Care Planning soon after diagnosis. Begin by expressing a need and interest to understand the patient's views with the aim to develop a broad understanding of the patient's hopes and dreams. Doctor-patient discussions about end of life treatment can be framed by starting a conversation focused on the question "How can we help you live well?"

Advance Care Planning and legal considerations help patients and families to:

• Consider the kind of care that fits with their values
• Make decisions about future care, and review possible scenarios in relation to their own situation and their values
• Identify a proxy decision maker, if one is available and appropriate
• Discuss wills, funerals, and other matters related to the end of life.

Encourage patients to have conversations with their family, carers and other health professionals involved in their care, to make them aware of their wishes and the existence of an Advance Care Plan, if there is one. This will help avoid future misunderstandings or family disagreements. A copy of the patients’ Advance Care Plan should be included in medical files and be available to accompany patients across healthcare settings.^[1]

For the full suite of Statement of Choices and Powers of Attorney forms go to the Powers of Attorney tab on the pathway.