(also known as Advance Directive or Living Will)

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An Advance Decision is just that, a document that you make in advance of any treatment that sets out certain circumstances and what you would wish to happen in those circumstances so far as medical treatment is concerned.  An example would be, if you were diagnosed with terminal cancer, you could instruct medical professionals not to treat the cancer but only to keep you comfortable and pain free.

An Advance Decision is more limited in scope than a Health & Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney as it only covers medical treatment and in particular the refusal of treatment in various scenarios.  It can also be used to request specific medical treatment but this request is not enforceable.

Under a Health & Welfare Lasting Power you appoint people you trust to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to do so.  With an Advance Decision you are making the decision yourself concerning your treatment, usually in advance of any diagnosis.

The instructions in the Advance Decision would be questioned if, for example, you had acted contrary to its instructions prior to the time when it was required.  If therefore you had requested in the Advance Decision not to be treated for terminal cancer but had already agreed to and received such treatment, this would throw doubt on the validity of the Advance Decision.

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Please fill in the form for our Trusted Will Writers to draw up your documents.

Cost: £50