Advance Directives (Living Wills)

An Advance Directive can be used to indicate your wish to refuse all or some forms of medical treatment if you lose mental capacity in the future. You can't use it to request treatment.  A valid advance decision has the same effect as a refusal of treatment by a person with capacity: the treatment cannot lawfully be given.  It is not to be confused with euthanasia, which is unlawful, but you can express your wishes in the event that your life is being artificially prolonged i.e. if your life would naturally have ended, but you are being kept going by artificial means, although you cannot refuse nourishment and fluids, which are essential to sustain life.

Three copies of the Advance Directive are prepared – one for your GP; one for the hospital that looks after you; one for you to make available to your family.

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Will Writing; Trusts; Estate Planning

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