Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and writing down your wishes or instructions for present or future health care treatment in the event you become incapable of deciding for yourself. Learn more about advance care planning in B.C., including tools and legal information to get started making a plan.
Your advance care plan should include information for a variety of situations including: hospital care during and after routine surgery, care in the event of an accident, or end-of-life decisions. In British Columbia advance directives, which are legal documents, are a legal option for all capable adults who want to do advance care planning.
For information on advance care planning information and resources in British Columbia, including videos (Punjabi and Simplified Chinese subtitles available), brochures, tips on completing your advance care plan, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit:
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. To learn more, please visit:
You can order hard copies of My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment from Crown Publications. Orders subject to shipping and handling charges, plus applicable taxes.
In British Columbia, individuals have the right to choose to die at home. For information about how to have an expected/planned death at home, please visit:
In B.C., the No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Form provides you and your physician with a legal option to order that no CPR be provided by health care providers and first responders.
The Ministry of Justice provides additional legal information useful for your advance care planning. To learn more, please visit:
Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) are medical orders. They are a way for your doctor to communicate your treatment wishes and decisions with other doctors and health-care providers who may be involved in your care. Through advance care planning discussions, you and your doctor will explore your values and the range of treatments available.
For medical orders for scope of treatment (MOST) information and resources from your health authority, click on the links below.
Call toll-free in B.C., 8-1-1, or 7-1-1 for the deaf and hard of hearing to get personalized assistance. Speak to a navigator who can guide you to reliable health information or connect you with a health professional. Translation services are available in over 130 languages.
