AMD
- Revocable legal document signed in advance to declare one's intention to refuse any extraordinary life-sustaining treatment to prolong life; applicable only in event when one becomes terminally ill and unconscious, where death is imminent.
- Must be above 21 years of age and not mentally disordered.
- Made through a doctor, who will act as one of the two required witnesses. Second witness may be any other suitable person above 21 years old.
- Completed dorm to be submitted to the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives.
- Confidential; doctor to submit request for search in AMD registry should patient be in condition for AMD to be effected.
ACP
- Ongoing communication process that takes place through sharing future healthcare wishes with loved ones.
- Applicable for wide range of end-of-life decisions, such as views on treatment plans and preferences on who to help in decision making when one is incapacitated from doing so.
- Not a legal process.
- Care preferences can be updated any time, through informing loved ones and updating ACP documents.
- Does not require presence of doctor, except for patients with complex conditions, which may then necessitate facilitating by ACP facilitators.
- Can be documented by various forms to be shared with loved ones, such as in an ACP form or a letter.
- Loved ones will convey preferences to healthcare team in medical crisis.
- One can make AMD and also undergo ACP process.
Thoughts anyone?
Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big
