Doctors Nova Scotia provided feedback to the justice and health departments on the Personal Directives Act.

The act allows people to make more decisions about future health care, home care services, nutrition, shelter and other issues that may arise. It will help people to choose someone to make personal-care decisions when they aren’t able to make such decisions themselves.

Doctors Nova Scotia supported the intent and direction of the legislation, but had concerns about who determines if someone is unable to make decisions about their own care, as well as other legal and administrative concerns. These concerns were addressed and changes were made to the draft legislation.

As regulations are developed Doctors Nova Scotia will work with the health and justice departments to help educate Nova Scotians and doctors about personal directives how they can affect them.

The Personal Directives Act received first reading on May 9, 2008 and received royal assent on May 27, 2008.