Victorian Numbered Acts Victorian Numbered Acts(1) A person exercising a power or performing a function or duty under this Act must have regard to the following principles—
(a) a person—
(i) has the right to make informed decisions about the person's medical treatment or medical research procedures that may be administered to the person; and
(ii) should be given, in a sensitively communicated and clear and open manner, information about medical treatment or medical research procedure options, including comfort and palliative care, to enable the person to make informed decisions;
(b) the informed decisions of a person made under paragraph (a) should be respected and given effect to;
(c) a person has the right to be shown respect for the person's culture, beliefs, values and personal characteristics;
(d) a person's preferences, values and personal and social wellbeing should direct decisions about the person's medical treatment or medical research procedures that may be administered to the person;
(e) a person should be supported to enable the person to make decisions about the person's medical treatment or medical research procedures that may be administered to the person;
(f) a person may exercise autonomy with regards to medical treatment or medical research procedures that may be administered to the person by—
(i) making decisions; and
(ii) setting out preferences and values in advance; and
(iii) appointing a medical treatment decision maker; and
(iv) appointing a support person; and
(v) making collaborative decisions with family or community;
(g) a partnership between a person and the person's family and carers and health practitioners is important to achieve the best possible outcomes.
(2) In subsection (1), the reference to a person exercising a power or performing a function or duty under this Act includes VCAT.