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The concept of autonomy, which prioritises bodily integrity and free will, is widely recognised and upheld in health care. One way autonomy is operationalised is by respecting the choice of adults with decision‐making capacity to consent to, or refuse, medical treatment. This includes respecting advanced consent in the form of advance care planning (ACP).

ACP allows individuals to specify their values and preferences for medical treatment in advance so they can be relied on in the event they lose decision‐making capacity. ACP may be undertaken at any stage of adult life, and early engagement is encouraged, particularly for individuals with ongoing illnesses. However, ACP is typically reserved for end‐of‐life diagnoses when an individual has an impending terminal illness and is at imminent risk of losing decision‐making capacity.

This MJA Ethics and Law shares more.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain key components of the article
2. List main findings
3. Recognise opportunities to engage in the ACP process for specific patients.

Details

Author: John J Bockxmeer, Casey M Haining and Andrea Atkinson

Article Type: Ethics and Law