Advance Directives Info (BC)

Metadata

• Category: Self-Advocacy
• Tags: Advance Directive, health care planning, end-of-life wishes, BC law
• SEO Meta Description: What Advance Directives are in British Columbia, how they differ from Representation Agreements, and why they matter for mental health planning.
• Keywords: Advance Directive BC, health care directive, incapacity planning
• Author: ConsentBC Research Team
• Last Updated: June 2026
• Slug: /resources/advance-directives-info

Excerpt An Advance Directive lets you give specific instructions about health care treatments you want or do not want if you become incapable. Learn how to create one in BC and how it interacts with the Mental Health Act.

Full Content

An Advance Directive is a legal document in which you give written instructions about specific health care treatments (especially life-sustaining measures) in case you become incapable of deciding for yourself.

Key Features in BC

• It is binding on health care providers when you are incapable.
• It focuses on specific treatments (e.g., CPR, ventilation, feeding tubes).
• It is different from a Representation Agreement (which appoints someone to make decisions on your behalf).

How It Relates to the Mental Health Act

Advance Directives are most powerful for physical health decisions. For psychiatric treatment under the Mental Health Act, the facility director’s authority (via “deemed consent”) generally takes precedence. However, documenting your wishes clearly can still influence care, support your case at a review panel, and guide substitute decision-makers for non-psychiatric matters.

How to Make an Advance Directive

• Use the official BC form or work with a lawyer.
• Be as specific as possible about treatments and situations.
• Discuss your wishes with your representative (if you have a Representation Agreement) and family.
• Keep copies accessible and give them to your doctor and representative.

Best Practice Combine an Advance Directive with a Representation Agreement and Enduring Power of Attorney for comprehensive planning.

External Links

• Official forms and information: gov.bc.ca (search “Advance Directive”)
• Public Guardian and Trustee

Call to Action Planning ahead is a powerful act of self-advocacy. Contact ConsentBC for guidance on creating these documents or understanding how they apply in a mental health context.