Advance decisions are sometimes called advance directives or living wills. They provide clear instructions to doctors about how you would like to be treated, but only if you become unable to decide for yourself due to mental incapacity or other serious illness. The difference between an advance decision and a Power of Attorney is that you decide in advance about types of treatment, rather than handing over power to someone else to decide on your behalf.

An advance decision is legally binding in England and Wales and can relate to all future treatment, not just that which may be immediately life-saving. Indeed, they can be drawn up while a person is in perfect health, but are most often drafted following diagnosis of an injury or illness. They sit with your medical records and are easily accessible for members of the medical profession.

Why advance decisions are useful

Advance decisions can be beneficial for many reasons. They:

• Allow people to make their own decisions while still of sound mind
• Guarantee that an individual’s religious or personal beliefs are respected
• Provide peace of mind regarding future events

Our services

McHale & Co understands the importance of enabling people to make their own decisions concerning their future. We therefore provide a range of services to ensure our clients’ wishes are respected. These include:

• Practical advice in this sensitive area
• An advance decision personalised for your individual circumstances
• Management of the process on your behalf from start to finish

On top of this, you also get to benefit from our wealth of experience in this particularly tricky aspect of UK law.