UK Living Wills

ou are allowed by law to make decisions about what medical treatment you wish to have or to refuse. But how doctors may not know your wishes if you became so severely ill, or mentally incapacitated, that you couldn't tell them?

Your family or friends might be able to speak on your behalf but this puts a huge burden on the ones you love the most.

The most reliable and legally valid way to ensure your wishes are taken into account is to prepare a written document before such a situation arises. These sorts of documents are know as Advance directives or Living Wills. This document clearly lays out your decisions about what should happen to you if you should find yourself in a variety of situations.

This might, for example, be a decision about having a life-saving operation. Doctors are legally bound to respect the views expressed in an Advance Directive or Living Will, as long as they believe the person was mentally competent when they wrote it.

Living Wills / Advance Directives informs medical staff how you wish to be treated should you no longer be able to communicate your wishes to your medical team. With a Living Will you decide what happens if you are seriously ill with little chance of recovery. It makes sure it is not left to your next of kin to make life and death decisions on your behalf.
 

   Uk Living Wills and Advance Directives