End of Life : The Big Questions

The compassionindying website is very helpful.

You can write your wishes out yourself or download an advanced directive. Then you need to take it to your gp and make sure your next of kin has a copy too.
Also give a copy of it to doctors when you arrive at a hospital.
I keep meaning to do this.

Is an advanced directive the same thing?

I made a Living Will some time ago - and now can't find it!
Will do another, refusing all life-prolonging treatment in the event that I can no longer both care and speak for myself.
I have seen far too much 'striving to keep alive' of people with pretty far gone dementia. All with the best of intentions, I dare say, but it's the last thing I'd want for myself - and so often IMO it's sadly misguided waste of both NHS and private resources.

What zachmoss said.

A few weeks ago I read an article in the Guardian about a tv programme from Holland. Where relatives can give consent to euthanasia on behalf of the poorly person.
Did anyone see it?
Several other points were raised.

I have a Power of attorney giving my Youngest Son the right to take medical decisions etc if I'm incapable. I set it up 2 years ago when sorting out my finances etc and giving him power of attorney over my money should I be incapable too.
There are two separate parts to Power of attorney

Hi, sorry this is a bit late!

The lady on Big Questions was Celia Kitzinger and the document she mentioned was an 'Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment' which is also known as a living will or advance directive.

It allows you to refuse medical treatments in advance if you lose capacity e.g. from dementia.

Helpful info here:

compassionindying.org.uk/making-decisions-and-planning-your-care/planning-ahead/advance-decision-living-will/

If you wanted to let your family or someone else decide for you, then you'll need to do a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare.

compassionindying.org.uk/making-decisions-and-planning-your-care/planning-ahead/lasting-power-attorney/

Hope that helps.

Eglantine, it was a specialised form of power of attorney which was advocated on The Big Questions. The woman who described this legal document has a sister in persistent vegetative state for nine years due to Road Traffic accident as I recall and who did not have such a power in place.

Is this the best forum for my concern?

it was written in conjunction with the wills thats why the solicitor holds it,the kids have cards to contct him in case of a DNR situation

DNR or do not resuscitate maybe more helpful. It is usually written prominently inside and on the outside of a patient's medical notes after the patient discusses it with a member of the medical staff.

paddyann, I’m not sure that will work. A will only comes into force after death so nothing you have in there applies if you are still alive.
Power of Attourney is the best bet I think, but even that can only give guidance to family and medical staff.

we have this written into our wills,if either of us is in a state where we wont recover then the other has the power to "pull the plug" if one dies and the other is in that state our children jointly have the right.
Our children both have lawyers details where the will is held and both have been informed of our wishes.That way nobody needs to feel guilty at "giving up" on us.By far the best thing to do is be organised about these situsations in advance