What Is Advance Care Planning (ACP)? How Is It Different from an Advance Medical Directive (AMD)?

by YDCare Homecare Team | July 24,2026

Following the commencement of Hong Kong's Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance, more people have become familiar with the term Advance Medical Directive (AMD). At the same time, another term that is often mentioned alongside it is Advance Care Planning (ACP).

Many people wonder: Are Advance Care Planning and an Advance Medical Directive the same thing? Do I need to complete Advance Care Planning before making an Advance Medical Directive? How are they related?

In fact, Advance Care Planning and an Advance Medical Directive are not the same. They are two complementary concepts. Simply put, Advance Care Planning is a process of discussion and planning, while an Advance Medical Directive is a legally recognised document that formally records certain healthcare decisions.

What Is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is not a single document, but a process of communication and planning.

It involves discussions between the patient, family members and healthcare professionals about the possible progression of the illness, available treatment options, personal values and beliefs, and future healthcare and care arrangements.

These discussions generally include:

- The possible progression of the illness;
- Future treatment options;
- Personal values and beliefs;
- Views on life-sustaining treatment; and
- The type of care the person would wish to receive if they were no longer able to make healthcare decisions.

Advance Care Planning aims to help individuals make informed decisions about their future healthcare after understanding the available options and their possible consequences.

In practice, family members are also encouraged to participate in these discussions so that they understand the person's wishes and can help reduce disagreements when important healthcare decisions arise in the future.

What Is an Advance Medical Directive?

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a legally recognised document that allows an adult with mental capacity to record their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment in advance.

An Advance Medical Directive enables the maker to decide, in advance, the clinical circumstances in which the directive should apply and which life-sustaining treatments they wish to refuse if they lose the mental capacity to make healthcare decisions in the future.

If the maker subsequently loses the mental capacity to make healthcare decisions and the circumstances specified in the Advance Medical Directive are met, healthcare professionals will follow the maker's previously expressed wishes.

In other words, an Advance Medical Directive is a legal document that formally records a person's advance healthcare decisions.

What Is the Difference Between Advance Care Planning and an Advance Medical Directive?

Although both relate to future healthcare planning, they serve different purposes.

Advance Care Planning is an ongoing process of discussion and planning that helps patients, family members and healthcare professionals discuss the likely course of the illness, treatment options and personal values at an early stage.

An Advance Medical Directive, on the other hand, is a formal healthcare decision made while the person still has mental capacity. It records, in accordance with legal requirements, the maker's decision to refuse specific life-sustaining treatments under specified future circumstances.

An Advance Medical Directive may be made as part of the Advance Care Planning process, but the two are not the same.

Simply put, Advance Care Planning comes first—it is the discussion. An Advance Medical Directive is the formal legal record of the healthcare decisions made following those discussions.

Is Advance Care Planning Required Before Making an Advance Medical Directive?

The law does not require a person to complete Advance Care Planning before making an Advance Medical Directive.

However, before making an Advance Medical Directive, it is generally recommended that the individual first discusses their wishes with healthcare professionals, family members and caregivers through the Advance Care Planning process. These discussions help the individual better understand their medical condition, future treatment options, and the possible implications of refusing life-sustaining treatment before deciding whether to make an Advance Medical Directive.

This helps ensure that the maker's decision is made voluntarily and on the basis of sufficient understanding and informed consent. It also enables family members to better understand the person's wishes and treatment preferences, reducing the likelihood of disagreements when future healthcare decisions need to be made.

Advance Care Planning and an Advance Medical Directive do not replace one another—they complement each other.

Advance Care Planning focuses on communication and planning between the patient, family members and healthcare professionals, helping the individual understand future healthcare options. An Advance Medical Directive, by contrast, formally records the person's wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment in a legally recognised document after those discussions have taken place.

Starting Advance Care Planning early not only helps family members understand the person's values and wishes, but also makes it more likely that future healthcare decisions will reflect the person's own preferences.

If you or your family are considering Advance Care Planning, home hospice care or palliative care, and would like to learn more about receiving care at home, YDCare can provide support through our professional nurses and multidisciplinary team. We help patients and families understand the available care options and support individuals throughout every stage of their care journey, in accordance with their wishes.