Making decisions about end of life care
15th November 2013
The guardian recently reported how most people do not want to be given life sustaining or life-saving care when they are nearing the end of their life. People commonly assume that their families will be able to ensure that their wishes are carried out by medical staff. However, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 affects how people can make decisions about their care, including life-saving treatment, if they lose mental capacity. Those people who do wish to make decisions about refusing medical treatment in the future are required to make it legally binding by making an ‘advanced decision’ (or advanced directive) when they still have capacity to do so. Without this, the healthcare staff will make their own decision about what is best for the individual. Despite a recent poll by YouGov indicating that 57% of adults would not want to be resuscitated only 4% of adults have actually signed an advanced decision to force doctors to carry out their wishes.
Click here for more information on Advanced Decisions
“Most do not want to be resuscitated at end of life” The Guardian