ABSTRACT
An Advance Decision is a document that is a principle in law and medical practice that allows a person who is aged 18 or over to refuse specific medical treatment for a time in the future when he may lack the capacity to consent to or refuse that particular treatment plan. People are only able to make Advance Decisions to refuse treatment, and they have no legal right to demand specific treatment. An Advance Statement is not legally binding; however, it does have legal standing as it must be taken into account when someone is deciding what is in the person’s best interests as it states the person’s past views, beliefs and values. An Advance Statement can be given verbally, but it is better if the person writes it down as an enduring record of her preferences, so that people are able to refer to it in the future.
