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Are Living Wills legally binding in the United Kingdom

A Living Will, also known as an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), or Advance Directive in Scotland, is a document which clearly states what future medical treatments you do not want to receive.<br>This could be used to refuse life-sustaining treatment, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), chemotherapy or ventilation to help with breathing.<br>The legalities vary across the UK, and below you will find information about what the law says about living wills in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A living will is legally binding in England and Wales if it meets a set of r

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Are Living Wills legally binding in the United Kingdom

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  1. Are Living Wills legally binding in the United Kingdom? What are Living Wills? A Living Will, also known as an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT), or Advance Directive in Scotland, is a document which clearly states what future medical treatments you do not want to receive. This could be used to refuse life-sustaining treatment, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), chemotherapy or ventilation to help with breathing. The legalities vary across the UK, and below you will find information about what the law says about living wills in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A living will is legally binding in England and Wales if it meets a set of requirements. Similar rules apply in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, healthcare teams must consider a person's wishes about medical decisions outlined in their advance directive but are not bound by law to do so. What makes a living will legally binding in England and Wales? You are aged 18 or over and were capable to make, understanding and · communicate your advanced decision when you made it without pressure from anyone else You have clearly specified what treatments you want to refuse and in what · circumstances

  2. It is signed by you and a witness if you wish to refuse life-sustaining · treatment There is no reason to believe you have changed your mind. You may, for · example, have become pregnant after you wrote your decision or new treatments may have been developed. What does the law say about living wills in Scotland? In Scotland, health professionals are not bound by law to follow your decision like they are in England and Wales but generally do so.

  3. An advance directive provides evidence of a person's wishes, which doctors and nurses must take into account when they make decisions about their care. Your advance directive will only be used if you lack the capacity to decide about your care at that time. Are advance decisions legally binding in Northern Ireland? A clear and specific advance decision in Northern Ireland is given legal effect under common law, meaning a healthcare professional must follow it if they know about it.

  4. If, for example, a doctor ignores your advance decision, they could be taken to court.

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