Advanced Care Directive
An ACD guides future medical care but is rarely accessible during first aid emergencies.
An Advanced Care Directive (ACD) is a legal document that records a person’s preferences for future healthcare, including treatments they wish to accept or refuse. It may also appoint a substitute decision-maker to make medical choices on their behalf if they can no longer communicate. In Australia, ACDs are recognised under state and territory legislation, and the format or requirements may differ depending on the jurisdiction.
For first aiders and bystanders, an ACD rarely influences immediate first aid because these documents are usually stored at home, with a general practitioner, or in hospital records. In the critical first minutes of an emergency, a first aider’s role is to provide life-saving care using the DRSABCD action plan, call 000, and follow the instructions of emergency operators.
If an ACD is located and clearly available to paramedics or healthcare professionals, it may guide decisions about ongoing treatment or hospital care. However, a first aider should not delay immediate care to search for an ACD, as their primary responsibility is to preserve life and ensure professional help arrives as soon as possible.
Knowing that ACDs exist helps first aiders understand the broader healthcare context, but in almost all emergency scenarios, standard first aid protocols take priority until professionals can assess the situation.
Provide first aid following DRSABCD and standard protocols.
Call 000 for emergency assistance.
Continue care until paramedics or healthcare professionals arrive.
Do not delay care while trying to locate an ACD.
Inform emergency services if an ACD is available.
An Advanced Care Directive (ACD) is a legal document outlining a person’s future healthcare wishes. First aiders usually won’t have access to it during emergencies.