Personal Directives

The Personal Directives Act (PDA) (Nova Scotia), allows you to create a Personal Directive and to appoint a person (a Delegate) to give directions and make decisions regarding your personal and medical care if you are unable to do so.

The PDA allows you to give specific instructions about what treatments you will accept or reject and what kind of care you will consent to if you can no longer live in your home.  It is important to think about this while you are in good health so that you can make informed decisions before they are needed.

The PDA came into effect in 2010, and is much more detailed than its predecessor, the Medical Consent Act, which has since been revoked. A POA that was created before the PDA came into effect, it is still valid, but it might not have as much authority as you are now permitted to give under the Personal Directives Act.

A Personal Directive allows you to appoint a delegate to act for you in many areas including:

• Managing all aspects of your health, medical care and personal care, including without limitation, my medical treatments, surgeries, hospice, convalescent care, recreational and social activities, nursing home care, palliative care, nutrition, hydration, shelter, clothing, hygiene and my personal safety
• Give consent, withdraw consent, or refuse consent to any care, treatment, service or procedure when you are no longer capable of doing so yourself
• Provide guidance to your delegate with regard to Living Will provisions for treatment if your death is imminent and you do not wish to be kept alive by artificial means

Our lawyers can help you with the creation of a Personal Directive or we can assist you if you want to void your old POA for health care and create a more detailed plan.