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On September 1, 2011, B.C.’s updated incapacity planning legislation came into effect. The new laws provide more legal options for capable adults to express their wishes and decisions for their future health care, and management of their routine finances and personal care without having to visit a lawyer. Personal planning, including making future health care decisions, is as important as making a will, but is often overlooked.
When a capable adult thinks and talks about their wishes for future health care with close family and their health care provider, they are doing advance care planning. Advance care planning enables those who know you best to respect your wishes if asked to make a decision on your behalf.
The Ministry of Health encourages all capable adults in B.C. to do advance care planning, and take the further step of documenting their wishes and instructions for future health care using the tools available in the advance care planning guide, My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment (PDF 4.3M). Due to unexpected high demand, the Ministry and health authorities regret they cannot fulfill requests for hard copies of the guide at this time. We regret any inconvenience this may cause, and are looking into options to make bulk ordering a possibility in future. Please watch this web page for more information.
To watch a video about advance care planning or download a brochure, please visit the SeniorsBC website.
For more information about advance care planning in B.C., see our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 547K ) or email AdvanceCarePlanningBC@gov.bc.ca.
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