Any person has the right to refuse healthcare. For instance, you may decline an amputation, even if a doctor advises it.
But if you lose mental capacity, who can make that decision for you?
You can give an instruction now which will be effective if you lose capacity. It is called an Advance Healthcare Directive (sometimes known as a ‘living will’).
Like a will, it must be properly executed to be effective, and it can be revoked if one has capacity.
You can include refusals of life sustaining treatment.
And you can choose someone you know and trust as your designated healthcare representative to make sure people respect your advance healthcare directive.
This healthcare directive cannot be covered in an EPA and is a separate document.
The form is simple, but the issues are big and require careful consideration.
If you would like help with this or any other legal matter, please email us here info@mcgrathmullan.ie or contact us here.