Advanced Statement of Preferences & Nominated Support Persons

Advanced Statement of Preferences

An advance statement of preferences sets out a person’s treatment, care and support preferences if they become unwell and receive compulsory assessment or treatment.

A designated mental health service must ensure all reasonable efforts are made to give effect to the statement.

An authorised psychiatrist must have regard to the views and preferences expressed in a patient’s advance statement of preferences when making a treatment decision.

An authorised psychiatrist may only make a treatment decision that is not in accordance with the treatment preferences expressed in a patient’s advance statement of preferences if they are satisfied that the patient’s preferred treatment is either not clinically appropriate or is unable to be provided at the designated mental health services despite all reasonable efforts being made to provide the preferred treatment

Further information is available here.

Nominated Support Person

A nominated support person is someone appointed by a person to support them to express their views and preferences if they become unwell and receive compulsory assessment or treatment

A nominated support person is given information and consulted at important points in the treatment and care of a patient.

A designated mental health service must take all reasonable steps to support a nominated support person to perform their role.

A nominated support person is to perform their role in a way that supports a constructive relationship between a patient and their treating team.

A nominated support person will assist a person to express their views and preferences and exercise their rights if the person becomes unwell and needs compulsory mental health assessment or treatment.

Further information is available here.

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) supports people who are at risk of, or are currently receiving, compulsory mental health treatment in Victoria. IMHA provides free and confidential advocacy and information about your rights. You can call them on 1300 947 820 between 9.30am and 4.30pm seven days a week or visit their website.

I want to make an advance statement of preferences | IMHA