DNR and Advance Directives UK

[Left behind]

I am not terminally ill but high risk for strokes heart attacks etc. I have no quality of life and would like to get a DNR for when I use my SN or if fate decides one of the above should happen. It is known I have suicidal thoughts, will this immediately count me out from getting a DNR. In the UK you have to get a GP to agree I believe. I already have an advance decision from years ago but it does not cover CPR. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Lostkitten1]

You can use something called an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment. It basically says if you are in a situation where you cannot express your preference for medical treatment, do what the form says. It requires a witness to countersign but as far as I know it cannot be overridden, as it is protected by UK law, specifically the Mental Capacity Act 2005. There are templates out there, but wrote my own to specifically include self-destructive situations. You should make a witnessed copy available to your GP, and anyone else who might be responsible for your care.

Using such a document to prevent someone saving you from a suicide attempt is as far as I know not means-tested in law. The usual disclaimers apply, don't trust a random guy on the internet for legal advice, do your own research, ask a lawyer etc etc

 

[Left behind]

Interesting that you included self destructive situations and it was accepted. I would not have a clue how to word that bit. I have an advance directive but it does not include cpr. According to the information available there is a form but only the GP can authorise it that would then make it legally binding from what I've read.

 

[Lostkitten1]

As far as I know an ADRT has no legal requirement to "be accepted", past being witnessed by someone. The purpose of being witnessed by someone is to verify your mental capacity to make such decisions. The text of the act makes no reference to having the ADRT "accepted", and it also doesn't exclude using an ADRT to tell medical staff to do nothing to save your life. Specifically, Sections 24 through 26 deal with ADRTs, with section 25 being the "Validity and applicability of advance decisions". [Edit: "P" in this extract is the person the ADRT is written by and applies to]:

(4)An advance decision is not applicable to the treatment in question if—

(a)that treatment is not the treatment specified in the advance decision,​

(b)any circumstances specified in the advance decision are absent, or​

(c)there are reasonable grounds for believing that circumstances exist which P did not anticipate at the time of the advance decision and which would have affected his decision had he anticipated them.​

​

(5)An advance decision is not applicable to life-sustaining treatment unless—

(a)the decision is verified by a statement by P to the effect that it is to apply to that treatment even if life is at risk, and​

(b)the decision and statement comply with subsection (6).​

(6)A decision or statement complies with this subsection only if—

(a)it is in writing,​

(b)it is signed by P or by another person in P's presence and by P's direction,​

(c)the signature is made or acknowledged by P in the presence of a witness, and​

(d)the witness signs it, or acknowledges his signature, in P's presence.​

​

(7)The existence of any lasting power of attorney other than one of a description mentioned in subsection (2)(b) does not prevent the advance decision from being regarded as valid and applicable.

My interpretation therefore is that, as long as you specify expicitly what you want to receive treatment for and what you don't, an ADRT can be used to stop medical staff or caregivers from intervening on a suicide attempt [Edit: or indeed anything else]. Certainly mine was filed with my GP without comment.

If you want to read the full text of the act, you can find it here. Again, not a lawyer myself, do your own research etc. etc.