Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment

Increasingly people are asking to complete an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) at the same time as a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and this is something I can help with.

I offer free advice on completing an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment and also provide a bespoke service as required.

Have you ever heard a story in the news and thought, “I wouldn’t want that for me?”

If you know there are certain treatments that you would not want to have you can refuse them. A sudden accident or longer-term ill health condition could mean that you are in a position where you cannot refuse or consent to treatment; an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT) it is your way of saying in advance what you would not wish to happen to you in the future.

What is an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment?

An ADRT is a legal document which sets out specific treatments you may wish to refuse at a time when you do not have capacity. 

What must be included in an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment?

·         A person must be over 18 and have capacity

·         The Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment must be written down, signed and witnessed

·         It must also have the following statement "I confirm the following refusal of treatment even if my life is at risk or may be shortened as a result”

What type of treatment can be refused in an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment? An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment could include clinically assisted nutrition and hydration, mechanical ventilation, antibiotics for a life-threatening condition and cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

How can I find out more about an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment?

You can listen to Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment with Celia Kitzinger to find out more about an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment. Celia shares how a devastating family experience provided the catalyst for her work and provides clarity and insight into ADRTs and the MCA . Celia talks through the process of making an ADRT and why an Advance Statement of wishes and preferences is so very important.

Read how I made my own Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment

In this blog I will describe in  more detail what an ADRT is and how I went about making mine.

You can access the podcast Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment with Celia Kitzinger  to hear the devastating consequences of not having an ADRT in place and read about the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and an ADRT.