An Advance Health Directive applies if you are in the terminal phase of an incurable illness, and you cannot give medical directions yourself.  

It basically applies if you are on ‘life support’.

It allows you to set directions about whether you want pain relief, and whether you want life sustaining measures.  You can express religious or other beliefs.  You can also specifically include, or exclude, certain people from being involved in the ‘life support’ decision making process.

An Advance Health Directive is not used to authorise euthanasia in Queensland.  This is a common misunderstanding.

You may not need an Advance Health Directive, because laws are already in place so that your next of kin can decide for you (if this is what you intend).   If you already have an Enduring Power of Attorney which covers personal / health decisions then most of your other types of health care decisions are likely to be made pursuant to that document instead.

It is prudent to postpone deciding about whether to prepare an Advance Health Directive until you have discussed the pros and cons with your Doctor and your Lawyer. 

It is not sensible to prepare an AHD without professional assistance.  This is because it is easy to get confused by this document.  If it is not completed correctly, it may be considered invalid, or even unintentionally revoke your existing Enduring Power of Attorney.