Think about your choices

Transcript for The questions that matter most

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>>Chris: Do you feel you would know my preferences for my future healthcare and could make sure they're met if I was ever in a situation where I couldn't express my wishes for myself?

[Text on screen] The questions that matter most

>>Bill: I do, I think, we know each other well enough that, and share enough values in common that I fairly confident

>>Sue: When mum was in her last days and unable to make decisions for herself because of her dementia. How did you feel dad processed the turn of events?

>>Heather: I don't think he processed it very well at all. They had nothing in place. They had not discussed that between the two of them.

>>Gerald: I was walking, I was running, I was on a bike. I mean, I was just, you know, I was just doing all that kind of healthy things and suddenly within a day, I got a runny nose and next thing I'm in dire straits.

>>Chris: What do you think are unacceptable outcomes of medical treatment after illness or injury?

>>Bill: I think a lot of those unacceptable outcomes would be related to, my cognitive or my brain function. If I was significantly impaired and couldn't think clearly and couldn't communicate with others, I don't think I would want to be kept alive. No.

>>Heather: When the doctor said to him, there's nothing else we can do for your wife. I literally saw his heartbreak in that moment because he had no idea that that was coming.

>>Gerald: What were the risks you took with my life making those decisions? An example, did you know because of the chance of brain damage that I would have to learn to speak and walk again. And did you think that I would've been okay with that?

>>Paul: That's a tough question. Our understanding of each other, was, was paramount to this sort of decision making.

>>Bill: I think I would do the right thing by you. I still feel it would be really hard. Arriving at that, but then I put myself in that position of having to possibly, you know, let go of you.

>>Heather: After mum died, I think he thought, I don't want the kids to go through that. So he did an advance care directive, and discussed it with all of us.

>>Paul: How do you feel about the decisions that were made for you?

>>Gerald: I'm forever grateful. I mean, for really, it's mean, without some of those decisions, I wouldn't be here talking with you. It's something that I can't thank everyone enough for, for doing that.

>>Sue: He wasn't in the right state of mind to be able to make a decision for himself.

>>Heather: Having that, uh, advanced care directive in place made our decisions so much easier. I think his main objective was he didn't want us to have to make those decisions and go through that guilt and regret. I think he would've felt proud of us.

>>Chris: Mm.

>>Heather: I do. I think he would too. Because that's what he wanted and we followed what he wanted.

>>Chris: Do you think we need a directive now?

>>Bill: I think we probably do. In as much as there's no certainty about life.

>>Gerald: The thing is, once you've actually experienced something like that, after the fact, I've seen the trauma that has caused everyone, and that would've been alleviated, I believe, if there was some kind of plan put in place.

[Text on screen] The questions that matter most. Share your choices today.

[Text on screen] For more information advancecareplanning.org.au
Advance Care Planning Australia Be open, be ready, be heard.

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