Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment overview. For more detail see the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice or www.adrt.nhs.uk [icon name=icon-circle-arrow-right]
- Person can make when capable and ≥18 years old
- Refuse a specific medical treatment
- In particular circumstances
- When they lack capacity to consent to or refuse that treatment
- It is legally binding when valid and applicable to the circumstances
- Can be verbal or written
However if refusing potentially life sustaining treatment MUST be
- Written
- Contain statement ‘even if my life is at risk’
- Signed
- Witnessed
[icon name=icon-download-alt]Example Advance Decisions Capacity Checklist
[icon name=icon-download-alt]Example ADRT Form
[icon name=icon-download-alt]Bassetlaw Example ADRT Form
To establish if an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment is valid and applicable the health professional must try and find out if the person:
- Has done anything that clearly goes against the ADRT
- Has withdrawn their decision
- Appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney with the authority to make a decision about the treatment in question after they did the ADRT.
- Would have changed their decision if they knew more about the current circumstances