- Managing your Practice
-
Virtual Care
Check out guides and resources to help you better use virtual care and technology to support patients.
-
- Your Benefits
-
Exclusive deals from brands you trust
You work hard. Your downtime is important and we want to help you make the most of it to do the things you love. Club MD provides exclusive deals from trusted brands so you can spend your time on what’s important.
Go ahead, put yourself in the picture.
-
- Advocacy & Policy
-
Promoting Good Health
Advocating for better health and improved safety on behalf of British Columbians.
-
- Collaboration
-
Working Together
In partnership with the BC government, we are working to make a difference through collaborative programs.
-
- News & Events
-
Stay Informed
Stay up to date with important information that impacts the profession and your practice. Doctors of BC provides a range of newsletters that target areas of interest to you.
Subscribe to the President's Letter
Subscribe to Newsletters
-
- About Us
-
Our Strategic Framework
Our strategic framework helps us navigate our future and fulfill our purpose of making a difference, so our doctors can make theirs.
-
You are here
- Home
- News & Events
- Advance Directives
You are here
- Home
- News & Events
- Advance Directives
Advance Directives
On September 1, 2011 changes to the Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act and other acts (the Representation Agreement Act, Mental Health Act, Power of Attorney Act, Adult Guardianship Act) come into effect. The changes affect all health care providers. Patients may hear about the changes and ask how they are affected.
Summary of changes to the Act
- Advance directives gain legal status.
- Health organizations, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and all other regulated health care professionals in BC, plus emergency medical assistants, are legally bound by an adult’s instructions in their advance directive made while capable (includes both consent and refusal).
- The list of people eligible to be chosen as temporary substitute decision makers is broadened.
- The rules are tightened as to who can be named as a representative, and a capable adult may name their representative without having to visit a lawyer or notary public.
- A process is set out for making an application to court to resolve health care consent disputes.
Video - Q & A
Watch the full video (6mins and 9 secs) or just answers to specific questions below.
Q1 - What is an Advance Directive? (45secs)
Q2 - When do substitute decision makers come into play? (1min and 11secs)
Q3 - What is the role of the physician in an advance care plan? (44 secs)
Q4 - What is the procedure for Representative Agreements? (1min and 15 secs)
Q5 - What do the changes mean for physicians? (1min and 16secs)
Additional thoughts (50 secs)
Printable booklet
Click here to view the booklet.
The booklet will also be included with the September issue of the BC Medical Journal.
Printable FAQs
Advance directives
Advance care plan
Representatives, personal gurdians, other decision makers
Consent rules
For more information
Health Care Providers’ Guide to Consent to Health Care—Ministry of Health, July 2011
Detailed information on advance directives and advance care plans, decision support flow charts, case scenarios, scope and duties of personal guardians and representatives, representation agreements, changes to the list of people eligible to be appointed temporary substitute decision-maker.