living will

An advance statement can help a clinician to retain an element of that joint approach at what is a very difficult time for the patient.

The real-world uptake of PADs has been limited, despite the impetus of the PSDA, PAD legislation in 25 states, and the fact that all states allow advance statements for mental health in their health care decisions laws.

Furthermore, health boards and local authorities should jointly promote the use and benefits of advance statements or advance directives, where appropriate, to help clarify the role of a carer when a person become unwell.

Contrasted are different approaches of advance statements, advocacy, best interest practice, and risk management, as well as reconciling human rights of the mentally ill with law regarding mental incapacity.

Individual chapters within Part 2 investigate controlling symptoms and prolonging life (Chapter 5), resuscitation and advance statements (Chapter 6), assessment and treatment of psychosocial and spiritual problems (Chapter 7), and resource allocation (Chapter 8).

The House of Lords Select Committee on medical ethics has concluded that 'it could well be impossible to give advance statements in general greater legal force without depriving patients of the doctor's professional expertise and of new treatments and procedures which may become available since the directive was signed.