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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Living wills and the Mental Capacity Act
— a postal questionnaire survey of UK geriatricians | | Author(s) | Rebekah Schiff, Peter Sacares, Jane Snook |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 35, no 2, March 2006 |
| Pages | pp 116-120 |
| Source | http://www.ageing.oxfordjournals.org |
| Keywords | Medical care ; Terminal care ; Rights [elderly] ; Mental disorder ; Court of protection ; Law ; Geriatricians ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | In an anonymous postal questionnaire survey of all 1,426 British Geriatrics Society (BGS) members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 59% of questionnaires were returned. Of 811 geriatricians, 454 (56%) had cared for patients with living wills. Of the 280 who cared for patients when the living will had come into effect, 108 (38%) had changed treatment because of the living will and 84 (78%) of those felt that decisions had been easier to make. Living wills not already in effect made discussions with patients (171 of 178 patients) and families (135 of 178) easier. Of 779 geriatricians, 713 (92%) saw advantages of older people using living wills; 467 of these also expressed concerns. Only 16 geriatricians who had concerns said that there were no advantages. 214 (27%) were aware that their Trust had a form to help with discussions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Fewer (26 of 781) were aware of a Trust policy on living wills. The proposal, in the Mental Capacity Bill, for advance refusals of treatment were supported by 59|% (476 of 801), yet the proposal for a lasting power of attorney (LPA) covering health care was only supported by 47% (382 of 806). Many geriatricians have positive experiences of caring for patients with living wills. Despite recognising potential problems, most geriatricians support the use of living wills by older people. However, most believe that their Trust does not have a policy to support advance health care planning. Geriatricians have reservations about LPAs covering health care. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-060517207 A |
| Classmark | LK: LV: IKR: E: JVC: VR: QT4: 3F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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