A representation agreement is legal planning document that has you choose a person who can make health care decisions for you if you become incapable of making decisions on your own.
Tips & Links
A representation agreement names your substitute decision-maker (SDM) who can make health decisions for you when you are unable to do so.
Learn More
- Understand that your substitute decision-maker (SDM) should be trusted, understand your values, beliefs, and preferences, and be committed to making decisions in your best interest. Learn more about choosing a substitute decision-maker from Healthlink BC.
- Learn about a representation agreement and the forms required to make your choices and decisions legal from the Government of BC.
- Get some of your questions answered about a representation agreement from Nidus.
- Learn how your representation agreement is part of your advance care plan. Visit My Voice-An Advance Planning Guide for more information and forms.
- Check out BC Centre for Palliative-Care for information on choosing and or being a substitute decision-maker.
Things You Can Do
- Ensure that your SDM or TSDM knows if you have a Do Not Resuscitate or No CPR order, a written advance directive or Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST) form, if you are an organ donor, and/or if you have a written advance care plan. aware that if you do not have a written representation agreement, your physician asks for a temporary substitute decision-maker (TSDM) to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. If you do not have a SDM and no family member or close relative is available, the Public Guardian & Trustee (PGT) appoints a legal substitute decision-maker for you.
- Learn about free legal counselling services for low-income seniors to create an advance care plan and representation agreement from Senior’s First BC.
- Consider early planning for people with dementia from the Alzheimer’s Society.
Add your Substitute Decision-Maker to your My Health Care & Business Professionals PDF found in My People. Mywell Health helps you organize your decision documents in one place. File your Representation Agreement in both digital and print forms under My End of Life Decisions.