Palliative care: advance healthcare directive

Advance healthcare directive

Advance healthcare directives are governed by the law on palliative care, advance healthcare directives and end-of-life care.

An advance healthcare directive is a written and signed document, allowing you to set down your wishes relating to your end-of-life care, in case you are no longer able to communicate at the time. For example, the document might record your wishes as regards whether or not to stop a treatment, resuscitation etc.

This directive allows you to determine the conditions for your care at the end of your 'natural' life. 

The advance healthcare directive must not be confused with 'end-of-life arrangements', which are a tool allowing you, under certain conditions, to set down the circumstances and conditions in which you wish to receive euthanasia.

'End-of-life arrangements' are governed by the law on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Person of trust

The advance healthcare directive also allows you to nominate a person of trust from your circle. That person can represent you when you are no longer able to express your own wishes. Their purpose will be to express your wishes concerning the end of your life on your behalf.

Thus, the physician must heed the person of trust, who can exercise your wishes and your rights in dealings with physicians and caregivers when you yourself are no longer capable of doing so.

Recommendation

It is advisable to discuss your wishes concerning end-of-life actions and your advance healthcare directive with those around you, so that they are fully aware of your wishes and can represent you as you wish in the event of any problems.

The physician may ask your family members to determine your likely wishes, if you have been unable to express them in writing beforehand.