What is an Advance Health Directive in Queensland?

An Advance Health Directive (AHD) is a formal document where you specify exactly what medical treatments you want—or do not want—if you become terminally ill or lose capacity. While an EPOA allows someone to make the decision for you, an AHD is your voice speaking directly to the doctors.

Advance Health Directives QLD Guide

While an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) is broad, an Advance Health Directive (AHD) is specific. It is often referred to as a “living will” for your medical care.

EPOA vs Advance Health Directive

Enduring Power of Attorney: You give a person (your Attorney) the power to make health decisions for you. They have to weigh up what they think you would have wanted.
Advance Health Directive: You give instructions directly to your doctors. It bypasses the need for an attorney to “guess” your wishes because the instructions come directly from you.

Why You Need One

An AHD provides absolute clarity in heartbreaking situations. It covers scenarios such as:

Whether you want life-sustaining treatment (like a ventilator or feeding tube) if you are in a persistent vegetative state.
Instructions for terminal illnesses where there is no hope of recovery.
Preferences regarding organ donation.
Religious or personal beliefs that should guide your medical care.

The Medical Requirement

In Queensland, an AHD is a more complex document to complete than an EPOA because it must be discussed with and signed by a doctor. The doctor needs to certify that you have the capacity to understand the decisions you are making.

Benefits for Your Family

The greatest benefit of an AHD is that it removes the burden from your family. Making end-of-life decisions for a parent or spouse is incredibly traumatic. If you have an AHD in place, your family isn’t “pulling the plug”—they are simply following the wishes you clearly laid out while you were well.

When Does It Operate?

An AHD only operates if you are unable to make your own decisions. As long as you can talk and understand your options, the doctors will talk to you directly. It only steps in as your “digital twin” on the day you can no longer speak.

Ready to document your wishes? Contact Bell & Senior to discuss your Advance Health Directive and EPOA. Call (07) 5532 8777.