Patients win right to have their advance decisions honoured

doi:10.1136/bmj.39356.633993.DB

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Clare Dyer, legal correspondent

A new statutory right for patients to say in advance what treatments they would want to refuse if they later lose the capacity to take decisions came into force this week.

Doctors will have to abide by the new advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRTs) or risk criminal or civil proceedings in the courts.

The measure forms part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which from October 1 also gives individuals the right to create a lasting power …