South Australian Health Minister Jack Snelling told SBS The advanced care directive makes it easier for people to leave instructions about their treatment, or lack of it, in the event they can no longer make such decisions for themselves.
“It will enable people in those circumstances where they're unable to make their treatment decisions themselves to express in an advanced care directive, how they want to be treated, the extent they want to be treated and the lengths they want doctors and other health professionals to go to extend their lives," Mr Snelling said.
Mr Snelling said the laws take into account cultural and religious beliefs, such as people refusing blood transfusions, but he denies it's a back door to voluntary euthanasia.
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“We've built in a protection with regard to the right of conscience that health professionals have when it comes to administering or not administering treatment, but we've also made it quite clear that this is not a piece of Euthanasia legislation. This is about patient autonomy,” he said.
