An evidence summary inspired by safety discussions held at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s Safety Summit

End-of-life care may become a patient safety issue due to the high intensity care that is delivered at the end of life. Conversations around instructions such as advance directives may become significant at this time.

What is an advance decision? An advance decision (sometimes known as an advance directive, an ADRT or a living will) is a decision that someone can make now to refuse a specific type of treatment at some time in the future. It is considered a legal document so long as it complies with the Mental Capacity Act, is valid and applies to the situation. If an advance decision is binding, it takes precedence over decisions made in that person’s best interest by other people.

Date of publication: Dec 2017

Tagged: End of life care, Living will, Mental Capacity Act