Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care

This site will provide you with information about choosing the medical treatment you wish to have or refuse when you are unable to make your wishes known because of your illness.

Summary

Under the Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995, people can make plans for their future medical care and ensure that their wishes regarding treatment are followed.  The attached information provides guidance, forms and resources to enable people to formally express their wishes about what sort of treatment they want or don’t want and/or whether they wish to appoint somebody else [a medical agent] to act on their behalf.

Pamphlet

An explanation of a Medical Power of Attorney and An Anticipatory Direction (pdf 208kb)

Forms

You may fill these in from this site and then print them out, which will allow for a greater space for your instructions or you may also print them out and fill them out by hand. Whichever way you decide they will still need to be appropriately signed and witnessed.

If you choose to fill out the forms from the site please do not alter any words on your form. Only fill in your details and instructions in the appropriate boxes.  Your form may not be legally binding should you alter it.

• A guide for those completing a medical power of attorney (pdf 459kb) (doc 568kb)

• A guide for those completing an Anticipatory Direction (pdf 406kb) (doc 554kb)

• Information for the Health Professionals and Lawyers (pdf 531kb)

Links

• Office of the Public Advocate, South Australia

• Palliative Care Council of South Australia Inc.

Legislation

• Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act

• Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Regulations