The fear and uncertainty we are all feeling related to COVID-19 is understandable and no doubt raises questions in your mind about your own health care or that of those closest to you.

Under Ontario law, a health care provider must get consent for health care decisions from YOU or the person designated to be your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM). The one thing we can all do for each other is share the information that can guide our SDMs in the event that that we are too ill or injured to make our own health care decisions.

It is also very possible that you ARE the SDM for a loved one. Knowing their wishes and how they would like to be cared for if they became very ill will better equip you to make those decisions on their behalf.

There is no way to tell if a sudden illness, such as COVID-19, could leave  you or your loved one unable to make health care decisions. If nothing else, COVID-19 has taught us that it is never too late to have these conversations, until it is…

Advance Care Planning Conversations are the conversations that can guide us in caring for each other and can truly be the gift we give each other at this time….

1. Identifying your future Substitute Decision Maker
2. Having conversations about what is important to you

For more information on how to have ACP conversations, you can find a number of resources on this website.

Additional information about ACP and COVID-19 can be found below:

• Speak Up Ontario
• Speak Up Canada (Please note: laws governing health care consent vary across provinces so please ensure that the materials you review are aligned with Ontario law)

Engaging in Advance Care Planning for COVID-19: Learn about Advance Care Planning and why it is important. The best time to plan for future healthcare choices is before a medical crisis occurs.

Information for a Substitute Decision Maker for COVID-19: Learn about the importance of Substitute Decision Makers, and why you must act now consider future health or personal care wishes is before a medical crisis occurs.

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please start by visiting the Ontario Ministry of Health website and taking the self-assessment. Please do not visit a Covid-19 assessment centre unless you have symptoms. Do not call 911 unless it is an emergency. For other information and resources relating to Covid-19 and Hospice Palliative Care, please visit the Hospice Palliative Care Ontario website.