Why is advance health planning important?
As a rule, everyone wants to decide for themselves how they should be treated in the event of illness or after an accident. Even if you are no longer able to express your own wishes. Despite having a living will, it is often the case that a patient's wishes are unclear, too general or contradictory. This can give rise to justified doubts on the part of the treatment team.
The comprehensive Advance Care Planning concept is an excellent way of avoiding this and is therefore recommended by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
A well-drafted living will relieves your relatives enormously in an already difficult situation.
Special features compared to other living wills
The aim of Advance Care Planning (ACP) is to advise and support you. This should enable you to clearly make and formulate important decisions for your living will "plus".
The consultation focuses on understanding the possible consequences of your treatment wishes and weighing up the opportunities and risks.
ACP enables you to draw up advance directives for emergencies and for situations of prolonged or permanent incapacity. This allows you to exert influence at an early stage and protect yourself from unwanted situations. The documents ensure that your wishes are recorded clearly and comprehensibly.
The adult protection law applicable in Switzerland stipulates that a signed and dated living will is legally binding.
How does advance health planning according to ACP work?
1st conversation:
In the first consultation, we talk about your attitude to life, dying, medicine, your boundaries and personal values.
For example, you will be asked:
- How much do you like living?
- What does it mean to you to live a long time?
- Can medical treatment help to prolong your life in a crisis?
- What would you accept for a longer life?
- What is important to you and what is not?
2nd conversation:
In the second consultation, we will define your appropriate treatment goal for emergencies and in the event of prolonged or permanent incapacity based on our first consultation.
If possible, your authorized representative will accompany you to this meeting.
The creation of a living will "plus" is understood as a process.
You can adapt your decisions flexibly to your life and illness situation at any time. Your ACP advisor will be happy to assist you.
How much does an ACP consultation cost me?
For patients of the Center for Integrative Oncology (ZIO AG), the ACP consultation is covered by basic health insurance. For external patients, there is a manageable contribution towards costs.
Please contact ZIO Zürichsee directly for more information.
Phone: +41 44 787 27 07
Mail: zio.richterswil@zio.ch