Health and Community Services
April 16, 2015

Supporting the Health of Families and Communities

Provincial Government Marks National Advance Care Planning Day in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Provincial Government is recognizing today, April 16, as National Advance Care Planning Day � an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of identifying health and personal care preferences in the event a person becomes incapable of consenting to or refusing treatment or other care.

�Advance care planning requires thoughtful inner reflection about our own individual values and clear communication of our wishes with those who are close to us and within our support networks. Some of us may never need an advance care plan � but if we ever do, we will be glad it�s there and that we�ve had these conversations. Advance care planning ensures our voice is heard when we cannot speak for ourselves.�
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

An advance care plan may include an individual's preferences about procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mechanical ventilation.

To create an advance health care directive, residents are encouraged to first designate a substitute decision maker. The substitute decision maker is someone who will speak on an individual�s behalf and make decisions if that person is unable to do so for themselves.

The next step is to prepare and sign an advance health care directive. Once complete, a copy should be provided to the substitute decision maker(s), family doctor and close family members. In the event an individual is admitted to hospital or other health care facility, the statement should become part of that person�s medical record.

For more information and a template for creating an advance health care directive, residents are encouraged to visit //www.advancecareplanning.ca/media/52141/ahcd_booklet.pdf.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government is recognizing today, April 16, as National Advance Care Planning Day � an opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of advance care planning.
• Advance care planning ensures support networks are aware of a person�s health and personal care preferences in the event the individual becomes incapable of consenting to or refusing treatment or other care.
• For more information and a template for creating an advance health care directive, visit //www.advancecareplanning.ca/media/52141/ahcd_booklet.pdf.
• Newfoundland and Labrador�s Advance Health Care Directives Act can be viewed at www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/a04-1.htm.

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Media contact:

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2015 04 16                                                 11:10 a.m.