A substituted medical decision maker is now appointed through a document called a Medical Treatment Decision Maker Appointment. Legislated in 2016 in Victoria and coming into effect in March 2018, this document is different in appearance to the other Enduring Powers of Attorney and has different powers.

Medical decisions include treatment with physical or surgical therapy, mental illness, prescription pharmaceuticals & dental treatment.

Medical Treatment Decision Makers must make the medical treatment decision that they reasonably believe is the decision that the Principal would have made, had they had the decision-making capacity to make that decision.

This document may also need to be read in conjunction with an Advanced Care Plan should there be one in place.