3. IDENTIFY

3. IDENTIFY your substitute decision maker(s).

In Ontario, the law provides you with an automatic Substitute Decision Maker for health care if you are unable to speak for yourself. The Ontario Health Care Consent Act includes a (a ranking list) of Substitute Decision Maker(s).

The person or people in your life who are the highest ranked in this hierarchy and that meet the requirements to act as a Substitute Decision Maker(s) will be your Substitute Decision Maker(s) for health care: Making My Wishes Known – Substitute Decision Maker.

More information about Substitute Decision Makers is included here.

Or, if you wish, you can DECIDE who you want to appoint as your Substitute Decision Maker  through a Power of Attorney for Personal Care. A Power of Attorney for Personal Care does not have to be completed by a lawyer. There are resources and information available online through Community Legal Education Ontario and through the Ontario Attorney General.