How we make decisions
When making decisions for you, we are required to follow the principles outlined in Queensland law, including the General Principles and Health Care Principles . These principles guide us to:
- Respect your human rights
- Consider your views, wishes and preferences as much as possible
- Involve you in the decision-making process to the greatest extent possible
- Make decisions in way that promotes and protects your rights, interests and opportunities in the least restrictive way.
What if your current preferences are unknown?
If we don’t know your current preferences, we will:
- Consider your past wishes, values and beliefs to make decisions that reflect what you would have chosen.
- Consult with people who know you well to better understand your likely views, wishes and preferences.
Structured decision-making framework
We use the Structured Decision-Making Framework to guide all decisions we make for you. This framework ensures your rights are central and are only limited when necessary.
When making a decision, we:
- Take your views, wishes and preferences into account and make decisions that align with them wherever possible.
- Consult and seek input from your support network to better understand your likely views, wishes and preferences if they are unclear.
- Use substituted judgement if your current wishes are unknown, by considering your past choices, values and beliefs to make the decision you would have made.
- May not align with your views, wishes and preferences only if there is unreasonable risk to your health or welfare.
The decision-making process
This is how the decision-making process works from start to finish:
1. Identify the need for a decision and explore options
- A decision may be needed to address an issue, such as your health, wellbeing or personal circumstances. This need might be identified by you, someone close to you, or us during our enquiries.
- We will consider all available options for the decision. These options may be proposed by you, someone in your support network, or another relevant person.
2. Understand your wishes and preferences
- We’ll ask you what you want or would prefer.
- You can tell us verbally, in writing, using visual supports, gestures, or some other way that works for you.
- We’ll provide you with the information and support you need to make an informed decision.
- If you can’t communicate your wishes or preferences, we’ll try to determine them based on your past decisions, values or actions.
- If your views are still unclear, we may talk to people who know you well to understand what your likely wishes and preferences might be.
3. Assess risks and benefit of the proposed decision
- We’ll evaluate the proposed outcome of the decision, including any risks to your personal or social wellbeing.
- If your views, wishes or preferences present significant risks, we’ll explore ways to reduce or manage those risks while respecting your dignity and independence (this is known as 'dignity of risk').
- Occasionally, we may need to make a decision that does not align with your wishes to protect your rights, interests and opportunities.
4. Ensure compatibility with your human rights
- Any decision that limits your rights must be reasonable, necessary and justifiable under Queensland law.
- If we make a decision that limits your rights, we will document:
- Which of your rights have been limited
- Why the decision was necessary and reasonable.
5. Make and implement the decision
- Once a decision is made, we will inform you of the outcome and explain the reasons behind it.
- Depending on the nature of the decision, it may be implemented by you, us or a third party (e.g., a service provider or health professional).
- If a third party is responsible for implementing the decision, they may need to seek our consent before proceeding.
Other decision-making frameworks
You can read more about the different decision-making frameworks we use in the resources below: