In a health crisis, would your family know what care you would want?
If you could not communicate your wishes, who would you want to speak for you to ensure your cultural beliefs and values were respected?
Advance-care plans, or directives, offer people some control over their future care if they are too unwell to make their own decisions or communicate their wishes.
Dr Karen Detering, medical director of Austin Health's advanced-care planning program, says a plan can ensure an individual's cultural beliefs, values and preferences are respected by health providers and those closest to them.
While efforts are underway to integrate advance-care planning into routine healthcare across Australia, just 10 per cent of Austin Health's patients currently have plans.
