Advance Decision (Living wills)

What is an advance decision?

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 your wishes about refusing treatment if you're unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.

The treatments you're deciding to refuse must all be named in the advance decision.

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.

An advance decision is not the same as an advance statement.

Deciding to refuse a treatment is not the same as asking someone to end your life or help you end your life. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal in England.