What is an Advanced Medical Directive?

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a document that is signed in advance to inform your doctor, in the event that you are terminally ill and unconscious, that you do not want to receive any life-sustaining treatment that can be used to prolong your life. An AMD can be made by any individual who is 21 years old and above and is not mentally disordered.

 

Why should you get an AMD?

Having an AMD in place ensures that the individual’s hopes regarding their personal health and medical concerns are carried out, without any conflict of interest. For instance, they may want to die naturally and peacefully, rather than prolong life through modern medical developments.

This safeguards the personal hopes of the individual in the event that they are unable to fully express or articulate them. Loved ones are clear of the wishes of the individual and ensure these hopes are carried out, instead of being uncertain about what to do in the event of a serious medical condition.

How do you make an AMD?

• Obtain the AMD form online.
• Get two witnesses to sign the form alongside you, the two witnesses being:

• A doctor, who holds the responsibility of ensuring that you are not mentally disordered, you are not coerced to make the AMD and that you understand what the AMD entails;
• Any other suitable witness above 21 years old (e.g the nurse present, relatives who have no vested interest).
• Submit the form by post to the Registrar of Advance Medical Directives.

Want to find out more? Call us for a non-obligatory consultation.