title: Advance directives: the New Zealand context.
abstract: Advance directives convey consumers' wishes about accepting or refusing future treatment if they become incompetent. They are designed to communicate a competent consumer's perspective regarding the preferred treatment, should the consumer later become incompetent. There are associated ethical issues for health practitioners and this article considers the features that are relevant to nurses. In New Zealand, consumers have a legal right to use an advance directive that is not limited to life-prolonging care and includes general health procedures. Concerns may arise regarding a consumer's competence and the document's validity. Nurses need to understand their legal and professional obligations to comply with an advance directive. What role does a nurse play and what questions arise for a nurse when advance directives are discussed with consumers? This article considers the cultural dimensions, legal boundaries, consumers' and providers' perspectives, and the medical and nursing positions in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: aculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag, Auckland, New Zealand. pwareham@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wareham
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCallin
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diesfeld
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000941:ethics* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology; D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence