My Living Will - Dementia - specific decisions for your Advance Decision

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How to refuse treatments in clinical situations

You can use the list of decisions below to help you decide what treatments to refuse in your Advance Decision.

If you living with dementia, you should consult a health care professional who is trained in assessing mental capacity. This could be your GP or a health care professional from either the memory clinic or associated with the clinic. S/he will ensure that you are fully aware of what each decision means in the Advance Decision and that you are able to create an Advance Decision.

You should also talk to your GP if you need help planning or writing your Advance Decision, particularly if you suffer from complex or unusual illnesses.

Create an Advance Decision

Select any or all of the decisions below if you wish these to be added to your Advance Decision.

If you get a severe infection that, if not treated, could result in your death. The most common life threatening infection is a lung infection (pneumonia). In this circumstance:

You can decide you do not want any treatment that may keep you alive. Refusing treatment for a serious infection may shorten your life.
You wish to be kept comfortable and have every treatment to keep you comfortable, for example being sedated, to ensure you do not suffer pain or discomfort.

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Dementia

Decision

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If I get a severe infection that, if not treated, could result in my death, I do not want treatment that may keep me alive.

If you are unable to swallow liquids or solids. In this circumstance:

You can decide not to have any form of fluids or nutrition - by mouth or tube. Refusing to be fed will shorten your life.
You wish to be kept comfortable and have every treatment to keep you comfortable to ensure you do not suffer pain or discomfort. This could include having a small amount of fluid given under the skin that will help keep you comfortable or being sedated.