In this section
This discussion guide is part of a suite of resources. It is intended for use in conjunction with:
This framework provides a progressive approach to advance care planning discussions, a series of suggested clinical triggers, illustrative case examples and documents for capturing discussions and decisions.
This is a companion document for the Victorian Government policy Advance care planning: have the conversation; A strategy for Victorian health services 2014–2018.
It discusses the ethical and practical aspects of advance care planning in the paediatric setting, and provides an approach to decision making. This resource is not intended to form the basis of legal advice. The legal elements of advance care planning are not discussed in detail in this discussion guide or the other resources, however, clinicians are less vulnerable legally if they can document they have considered the values and preferences of the child and their family in medical treatment decision making.
The Victorian Government introduced the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill 2016 Parliament in September 2016 which, if passed, will commence operation from March 2018 and will provide greater clarity regarding the legal status of advance care plans. Importantly, the Bill clarifies that a child who has decision-making capacity can make their own medical treatment decisions or execute an advance care directive which will apply in event they do not have capacity at any future time.