Glossary - Health and Disability
In Health and Disability, Mental health
A substitute decision-maker is a person who has the legal right to make health-care decisions for you when you’re not mentally capable of making them yourself. This only happens if a doctor believes you can’t understand:
- information about your treatment, or
- what can happen if you get or refuse treatment
You may be able to choose your substitute decision-maker.
In Health and Disability, Mental health
Treatment is anything a health-care provider does to improve your health or prevent your health from getting worse. This includes things like medicine or drugs, counselling, therapy, or medical care for an illness or injury.
Treatment doesn’t include the time a health-care provider assesses your physical or mental health. It also doesn’t include the time they spend talking to you about your health.
