Formerly known as a ‘living Will’ this legally binding document will enable you to outline your wishes for refusing medical treatment if you become terminally ill, or if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.
This legally binding document will enable you to outline your wishes for refusing medical treatment if you become terminally ill, or if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself.
You can list specific medical treatments that you do not wish to receive or outline situations in which these treatments should not be provided. It is legally binding but will only be implemented if you lose capacity or cannot communicate your wishes. It does not give someone else power to make other medical decisions on your behalf – for that, you will need to put in place a Lasting Power of Attorney which we have covered separately.
Refusing life-sustaining treatment can lead to significant trauma for yourself and for your wider family, ultimately it may lead to your death, so there are many factors that should be taken into account before creating an Advance Decision.
