Advance Health Directive
Make your healthcare wishes known, even if you can't communicate them yourself.
An Advance Health Directive allows you to record your wishes about future medical treatment and healthcare decisions if you become unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.
It gives your loved ones and healthcare professionals guidance about the care you would want, including your values, beliefs, and preferences.
An Advance Health Directive forms an important part of a complete estate plan by helping ensure your voice is heard when you may not be able to speak for yourself.
At a Glance
✔ Records your healthcare wishes in advance
✔ Applies if you lose capacity to make healthcare decisions
✔ Guides your doctors, attorneys, family, and healthcare team
✔ Allows you to include your values, beliefs, and treatment preferences
✔ Forms part of a complete estate plan
Making Sure Your Healthcare Wishes Are Known
Many people prepare an estate plan to decide what happens to their assets after death. A complete estate plan also considers what happens if you are alive but unable to communicate your wishes.
An Advance Health Directive allows you to make decisions about your future healthcare while you still have capacity.
It provides guidance about the medical treatment you would or would not want in certain circumstances, helping your family and healthcare professionals understand your choices.
For many people, an Advance Health Directive provides reassurance that their values and preferences will be respected, even if they are unable to advocate for themselves.
An Advance Health Directive only works while you are alive
Your Will deals with your wishes after death.
An Advance Health Directive deals with your healthcare decisions during your lifetime if you lose the capacity to make those decisions yourself.
It works alongside your Enduring Power of Attorney as part of a complete estate plan.
Common Questions
What is an Advance Health Directive?
An Advance Health Directive is a legal document that records your decisions about future healthcare and medical treatment.
It allows you to provide instructions about the healthcare you would like to receive if, in the future, you become unable to make decisions or communicate your wishes.
In Queensland, an Advance Health Directive is an important document for anyone who wants to have greater control over their future healthcare decisions.
What can I include in an Advance Health Directive?
An Advance Health Directive may include your wishes about:
medical treatment you would accept or refuse
life-sustaining treatment
circumstances where you would prefer comfort care
your values and beliefs
cultural or spiritual considerations
preferences for your care
information you want your healthcare team to understand
The document is designed to reflect your personal circumstances and priorities.
Who should have an Advance Health Directive?
Anyone who wants to have a say in their future healthcare should have an Advance Health Directive.
It can be particularly valuable if you:
have specific wishes about medical treatment
have strong personal, cultural, or spiritual beliefs about healthcare
have concerns about future illness or injury
want to reduce the burden on your family during difficult circumstances
want your healthcare preferences clearly documented
Can I change my Advance Health Directive?
Yes.
You can update or revoke your Advance Health Directive while you have capacity to make those decisions.
It is important to review it if your circumstances, health, relationships, or views about treatment change.
Is an Advance Health Directive only for older people?
No.
Unexpected illness and injury can happen at any stage of life.
Many younger people prepare an Advance Health Directive because they want to ensure their wishes are known if an accident or medical event leaves them unable to communicate.
Why do I need an Advance Health Directive?
An Advance Health Directive gives you the opportunity to make important healthcare decisions while you have the ability to do so.
Without one, healthcare decisions may need to be made by others on your behalf if you lose capacity.
Preparing an Advance Health Directive allows you to communicate your wishes clearly and helps reduce uncertainty for your loved ones.
What is the difference between an Advance Health Directive and an Enduring Power of Attorney?
Both documents relate to decisions during your lifetime, but they serve different purposes.
An Advance Health Directive allows you to record your own healthcare wishes and instructions.
An Enduring Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone else to make certain decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity.
Together, they provide protection by addressing both your own instructions and who can support you if decisions need to be made.
Does my family have to follow my Advance Health Directive?
An Advance Health Directive provides instructions and guidance for your healthcare decisions.
Healthcare professionals must consider a valid Advance Health Directive when making decisions about your care.
The document helps ensure your wishes are known and considered if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
What happens if I don't have an Advance Health Directive?
If you lose capacity without an Advance Health Directive, your healthcare team and loved ones may need to make decisions based on the circumstances at the time.
This can be difficult for families who are trying to work out what you would have wanted.
An Advance Health Directive allows you to provide guidance before those decisions need to be made.
Is an Advance Health Directive part of a Will?
No.
An Advance Health Directive is separate from your Will.
Your Will operates after death, while an Advance Health Directive operates during your lifetime if you cannot make healthcare decisions yourself.
Both documents form part of a comprehensive estate plan.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes People Make With Advance Health Directives
Many people assume their family will automatically know what they want if something happens.
Common mistakes include:
assuming loved ones can legally make every decision for you
not recording healthcare preferences in advance
preparing a document without considering personal values and beliefs
forgetting to tell family members where important documents are stored
failing to review the document as circumstances change
Having an Advance Health Directive provides clarity for both you and your loved ones.
Why Choose Sun Wills & Estates?
Estate Planning That Protects Your Wishes
Estate planning is about preparing for the moments in life when decisions matter most.
At Sun Wills & Estates, we help Queensland families create complete estate plans that consider both lifetime protection and what happens after death.
We take the time to understand your circumstances, values, and priorities so your documents reflect what matters most to you.
Continue exploring our free resources
Download The Complete Testamentary Guardian Workbook to:
protect your children’s future
know the what, who, and why of testamentary guardians
questionnaire included to find the best match for your family
Download The Complete Estate Plan Guidebook to:
take the overwhelm out of estate planning
know what documents you need to protect yourself and your loved ones
appoint the best suited people to control positions
step-by-step guide to sort your estate plan
Meet Jacqui
DIRECTOR + LAWYER
Hi there! I’m Jacqui, the Founding Director of Sun Wills & Estates. Apart from being a lawyer, I’m also a mum to two beautiful boys...