The Death Card
Will you be picking up a "Right-to-Die" Card? It's the size of a credit card, fits neatly into your wallet, and enables you to give an advance directive to doctors that you wish to refuse certain treatments in the event that you become incapacitated. It will become available soon in various locations across Great Britain, including GPs' surgeries, public libraries and even shopping malls. The card will help to implement the provisions of the new Mental Capacity Act, which came into force in 2007. This Act enables adults to draw up "advance directives" specifying circumstances under which they wish to refuse further medical interventions. And, because of the new Act, doctors are legally obliged to abide by a patient's wish to refuse life-sustaining treatment.
All of which may look like a step forward for patient autonomy. Except, that is, if the patient happens to live in Northern Ireland. The new Act applies only to Great Britain. We'll be exploring the Act on Sunday and asking when, if ever, it is likely to apply to patients in Northern Ireland.
Comment number 1.
At 21st May 2008, smasher-lagru wrote:It seems reasonable that people would have the right to refuse medical interventions if they are already dying and the interventions would be burdensome.
Of course this wouldn't mean cutting off my food and water and starving me to death.
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Comment number 2.
At 21st May 2008, John Wright wrote:So are you telling me that people in Northern Ireland can't issue advance directives about their own medical circumstances? They need some new piece of legislation to "enable" them to do so? What a sorry state in the first place.
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd May 2008, Roberto Carlos Alvarez-Galloso wrote:For William Crawley from a ±«Óãtv NI listener in Miami Florida. Long time I havemn't been here. I have an Advance Directive here in America and it is part of life here. In case a person cannot make or is unable to make a decision pertaining to health care, the Advance Directive helps.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd May 2008, brianmcclinton wrote:Michael Irwin, former chair of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, has been drawing up an Irish Advance Healthcare DirectiveÌýand it should be ready in a month or so.
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