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Advance Decisions
Have you ever considered what would happen if you lost capacity and were suddenly unable to make a decision about your healthcare? Who would decide whether or not you should have an operation that may or may not prolong your life? Would your family have the final say? Not necessarily unless you make specific provision whilst you have mental capacity.
It is possible to put in place a lasting power of attorney appointing someone to make decisions about your health and welfare should you lose capacity.
Alternatively, if you do not have someone who you feel you can appoint to make decisions of such a delicate nature, it is possible to make an ‘advance decision’ or ‘living will' as they are more commonly known.
Advising on these extremely sensitive issues needs to be handled delicately by a sympathetic and experienced lawyer. Even though these might be difficult and uncomfortable decisions they should be made before it is too late. As one of our lawyers remarked:
“I remember when I first considered making my own living will. It was quite a different experience to advising clients about this. You suddenly become very aware of your own vulnerability and mortality. It taught me how it feels to be on the other side of the fence and I am now much more aware of how a client feels in the same situation.”
At Hart Brown our specialist lawyers can guide you through the process and help you make the best decisions for you and your family.
To speak to a specialist lawyer who can help with an advance decision or living will call, email or request a call back from one of our specialist lawyers.