The sad passing of two entertainment greats, David Bowie and Sir Terry Wogan, has drawn into question an individual\u2019s right to die as they wish.<\/p>\n
While their differences are many, both battled cancer privately and with dignity. They also shared a desire to organise and orchestrate how their deaths should be marked and their assets divided.<\/p>\n
In this day and age, surely everyone should have the right to choose the environment in which they pass away? Euthanasia is not legal in the UK, however, many of my clients raise issues and concerns regarding life sustaining treatment and their desire not to receive it in certain circumstances.<\/p>\n
We can provide what is known as an Advance Decision, which if made when you have full mental capacity, allows you to state what treatments you would want to refuse and at what point in the course of an illness. For example, if you develop dementia, you may wish the document to come into effect when you no longer recognise family members.<\/p>\n
It is often difficult for loved ones to second guess how a relative would want to be treated. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework for making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the ability, but no one knows better than you how you wish to die.<\/p>\n
Drawing up an Advance Decision costs very little. It is lodged with your GP and gives you peace of mind that when the time comes, you will at least have some control over the care and treatment that precedes the end of your life.<\/p>\n
When there is little that can be done for a patient, many find comfort in saving their nearest and dearest some of the heartache, stress and potential dispute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The sad passing of two entertainment greats, David Bowie and Sir Terry Wogan, has drawn into question an individual\u2019s right to die as they wish. While their differences are many, both battled cancer privately and with dignity. They also shared a desire to organise and orchestrate how their deaths should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[356],"tags":[379,621,1025,1322,1474],"class_list":["post-702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wills-and-probate","tag-advance-decision","tag-david-bowie","tag-mental-capacity-act-2005","tag-sir-terry-wogan","tag-wills-probate"],"yoast_head":"\n