ABSTRACT
TALKING TO RELATIVES ABOUT ADVANCED DIRECTIVES You are a medical SHO and have admitted Mr Jones with a severe chest infection. He is 44 years old, has motor neurone disease, and is unable to talk or move. He has a written advanced directive that he should not be resuscitated in the event of a cardiac arrest, and that you should not take any measure that would prolong his life. His wife, whom you have not met before, has asked to see you. She is very distressed; she thinks he has made a mistake with regard to the advanced directive and is demanding he is kept alive as long as possible.
