In BC, a TSDM is an adult who is ready and capable of making health care treatment decisions on your behalf if you are unconscious or unable to speak for yourself.
Tips & Links
- If you become unconscious or unable to speak for yourself and you have not completed a formal representation agreement naming a substitute decision-maker, your physician or care professionals asks for a TSDM to make medical decisions on your behalf.
- Learn how a “temporary” substitute decision maker is different from a substitute decision-maker (SDM), and the role, requirements, and limitations of the TSDM from Nidus.
- Make a list of your chosen TSDMs which usually includes family members, such as spouses/partners, children, parents, and siblings. The TSDM must be 19 years or older, aware of your values, beliefs, and preferences, not in conflict with you, and has seen you within the past year. Keep your list up to date in your Mywell Health planner.
- Your TSDMs should all know if you have a Do Not Resuscitate or No CPR order, a written advance directive or Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) document, are an organ donor, and/or you have a written advance care plan.
- If you do not have a TSDM list and no family member or close relative is available, the Public Guardian & Trustee (PGT) appoints a legal substitute decision-maker for you.
- Explore how your TSDM list is part of your advance care plan and your end-of-life planning – visit My Voice-An Advance Planning Guide for more information and forms.
- Your Mywell Health planner has been designed to organize all your decision documents in one place – keep digital and print copies in the section My End-of-Life Decisions.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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