Advance Planning in Mental Health Care: The Trouble with Terminology

Advance planning is increasingly being used in mental health care, particularly in the context of potential compulsory treatment. A variety of advance planning instruments may be used in health care settings and there has been confusion about the most appropriate language to describe them. This adds to confusion about whether an instrument is binding on health professionals or consumers and how the instrument might be disseminated. This column provides an overview and critique of current provisions in Australian law and of the key terms used.