| Refusing Specific Treatment |
| During an advance care planning discussion, you may decide to express a very specific view about a particular medical treatment which you do not want to have. This can be done by making an advance decision to refuse treatment. |
| An advance decision to refuse treatment (previously known as a living will or advance directive) is a decision you can make to refuse a specific type of treatment at some time in the future. |
| Sometimes you may want to refuse a treatment in some circumstances but not others. If so, you must specify all the circumstances in which you want to refuse this particular treatment. |
| There are rules if you wish to refuse treatment that is potentially life sustaining, for example, ventilation. An advance decision to refuse this type of treatment must be put in writing, signed and witnessed. |
| If you wish to make an advance decision to refuse treatment you are advised to discuss this with a health care professional who is fully aware of your medical history. |
| An advance decision will only be used if at some time in the future you lose the ability to make your own decisions about your treatment. |
