Future Medical Treatment and "Living Wills"
Advance statements and advance decisions or living
wills allow people to say, in advance, which medical treatments they would
or would not wish to have if they are unable to decide this for themselves.
The Advanced
Decision to Refuse Treatment's website explains how the law
now allows people to make decisions to refuse treatments including those
that sustain life. Many people want to achieve a natural and dignified
death. This is a free and non-profit NHS website.
Not everyone will want to make a living will.
Many people prefer not to think about ill-health or death, and some people
would rather leave decisions about their health care to professionals.
If it is important to you to ensure that your wishes for future
care are known, then advance statements and advance decisions are worth
investigating.
Kent
Adult Social Services also has some useful information you
may find of interested.
For further information please refer to the DirectGov
website and its“How
to make a living will page.
Last updated: 14th May 2012