Making and implementing advance decisions: a toolkit for healthcare professionals

This toolkit supports healthcare professionals’ understanding of advance decisions. It looks at: the legal framework for advance decisions and explains healthcare professionals’ obligations when caring for someone who lacks capacity; what an advance decision is and the criteria one needs to meet; how to support someone to make an advance decision; what steps should be followed if a person lacks capacity and has an advance decision; challenges that healthcare professionals may face when acting on an advance decision and offers practical guidance to help overcome them; and the relationship between advance decisions and lasting power of attorney for health and welfare. It consolidates guidance from the Mental Capacity Act, General Medical Council and British Medical Association.