Letter

In response to The conveyor belt for terminally ill older people Ken Hillman

Advanced Care Directives and Living Wills

Ken Hillman as a long term and esteemed medical practitioner in Intensive Care recognises as many do who work in this area that there is overtreatment of terminally ill persons.

States and Territories in Australia now have End of Life legislation that empowers people to express their wishes for end of life care in Advanced Care Directives and Living Wills.

Not enough people know about this option and take advantage of it.

As an old Intensive Care Nurse of at least 20 years I agree with Ken, but I encourage all people approaching older age to take advantage of their ability to autonomously express their wishes for their end of life care.

Recent legislation gives these documents greater legal weight to add to the ethical and moral weight they have always had.

— Jennifer Haines from Glossodia