A recent report suggests that only a mere 4% of citizens in the State have an extensive care strategy put together for times when they might find themselves incapacitated as a result of health complications. Safeguarding Ireland, an organisation that focuses on the protection of individuals who might become vulnerable due to incapacity, states that less than one-fourth (23%) of the population comprehend the concept of an advance healthcare directive.
An advance healthcare directive is an official document where an individual outlines future medical decisions, including granting or denying permission for treatment, surgical procedures, medication, and resuscitation procedures. This directive is implemented only when, at some point in the future, a person no longer has the cognitive ability to make, or communicate, these decisions. This could happen due to an escalation in frailty, dementia, severe illness, physical or mental disability, or an unexpected accident.
Based on words of Patricia Rickard-Clarke, the chairperson at Safeguarding Ireland, the adoption rate of such directives is significantly lower in Ireland compared to other nations, indicating a need for greater awareness and action. “Creating such a directive comes with no cost and is not complex. It serves as a key method of safeguarding rights and guarantees our wishes are respected if we are ever unable to make healthcare decisions in the future. It also benefits doctors and family members,” she declared.
Safeguarding Ireland advises all adults, particularly those using healthcare services, to create an advance healthcare directive and distribute a copy to those who require the information. On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland show, Clarke explained that many are familiar with the enduring powers of attorney. However, this only applies to the individual’s financial and property affairs and does not cover healthcare decisions. Therefore, it is essential for people to comprehend the importance of an advance healthcare directive, in order to express their preferences for their healthcare decisions.
Red C Research conducted a survey involving over a thousand participants and discovered that of the 19% of individuals who were familiar with the concept of an advance healthcare directive but had not created one, the predominant reasons were a lack of consideration (62%), no existing health issues (53%) and confusion about the process of creating one (42%).
Ms Rickard-Clarke emphasised the importance of spreading the word once an individual issues a directive. It is crucial that the right people are informed and handed a duplicate of this directive. This group includes the person’s assigned health caregivers, their general practitioner, any active health professionals they are dealing with, and the head of the emergency department if they have been admitted to a hospital or the manager if they reside in a healthcare or residential institution.