An advance decision (sometimes known as an advance decision to refuse treatment, an ADRT, or a living will) is a decision you can make now to refuse a specific type of treatment at some time in the future.
It lets your family, carers and health professionals know whether you want to refuse specific treatments in the future. This is so that they will know your wishes if you are unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.
The treatments you are deciding to refuse must all be named in the advance decision.
Sometimes, you may want to refuse a treatment in some situations but not others. If this is the case, you need to be clear about all the circumstances in which you want to refuse this treatment.
You can refuse a treatment that could potentially keep you alive (known as ‘life sustaining’ treatment). This includes treatments such as ventilation and CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation), which may be used if you cannot breathe by yourself or if your heart stops. You may want to discuss this with a doctor or nurse who knows about your medical history before you make up your mind.
An advance decision is not the same as an advance statement. Find out more about advance statements.
Who completes an advance decision?
You make the advance decision, as long as you have the mental capacity to make such decisions. You may want to make an advance decision with the support of a clinician.
If you decide to refuse life-sustaining treatment in the future, your advance decision needs to be:
- written down
- signed by you
- signed by a witness
Life-sustaining treatment is treatment that replaces or supports ailing bodily functions. For example, a mechanical ventilator can help you to breathe, or taking antibiotics can help your body fight infection. If you wish to refuse life-sustaining treatments in circumstances where you might die as a result, you need to state this clearly in your advance decision. Life-sustaining treatment is sometimes called life-saving treatment.
You may find it helpful to talk to a doctor or nurse about the kinds of treatments you might be offered in the future, and what it might mean if you choose not to have them.
The National End of Life Care Programme has an example form for an ADRT (PDF, 62KB), which can be useful if you want to see the kinds of things you should include.
Is an advance decision legally binding?
Yes it is, as long as it:
If your advance decision is binding, it takes the place of decisions made in your best interest by other people. An advance decision may only be considered valid if:
- you are aged 18 or over and had the capacity to make, understand and communicate your decision when you made it
- you specify clearly which treatments you wish to refuse
- you explain the circumstances in which you wish to refuse them
- it is signed by you and by a witness if you want to refuse life-sustaining treatment
- you have made the advance decision of your own accord, without any harassment by anyone else
- you haven't said or done anything that would contradict the advance decision since you made it (for example, saying that you have changed your mind)
How does an advance decision help?
As long as it is valid and applies to your situation, an advance decision gives your health and social care team clinical and legal instructions about your treatment choices.
An advance decision will only be used if, at some time in the future, you are not able to make your own decisions about your treatment.
Does it need to be signed and witnessed?
Yes it does, if you are choosing to refuse life-sustaining treatment – in which case the advance decision must be written down, and both you and a witness must sign it. You must also include a statement that the advance decision applies even if your life is at risk.
Who should see it?
You have the final say on who sees it, but you should make sure that your family, carers, or health and social care professionals know about it, and know where to find it. You can keep a copy in your medical records.
More information
The NHS National End of Life Care Programme has produced a booklet about advance care planning. It includes information about:
- your options
- letting people know your wishes
- appointing someone to make decisions for you, and examples of situations when you might want to do this
You can read the booklet Planning for your future care: a guide (PDF, 3MB) online, or request a free copy by emailing information@eolc.nhs.uk.
You can also watch videos of people talking about their own experiences of end of life care and living with a terminal illness on the healthtalkonline website.
NHS Choices has more information on your right to refuse future medical treatment.
