Skip to main content
PMC home page
The BMJ logoLink to The BMJ
. 1995 Jan 28;310(6974):236–238. doi: 10.1136/bmj.310.6974.236

Making an advance directive.

G S Robertson 1
PMCID: PMC2548626  PMID: 7866130

Abstract

The introduction in Britain of advance directives--which allow a person to state in advance of becoming incompetent that they wish to take part in treatment decisions when no longer mentally competent--has now been advocated by the medical and legal establishments. The practical application of directives relating to health care would be simplified by the adoption of a standard model document together with guidelines summarising the background clinical conditions and any subsequent acute events that may make it appropriate to trigger the use of a directive. As no specific legislation exists, good communication is needed at the various stages between the drafting and implementation of directives if the system of directives is to be successful.

Full text

PDF
237

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Davidson K. W., Hackler C., Caradine D. R., McCord R. S. Physicians' attitudes on advance directives. JAMA. 1989 Nov 3;262(17):2415–2419. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Doyal L., Wilsher D. Withholding cardiopulmonary resuscitation: proposals for formal guidelines. BMJ. 1993 Jun 12;306(6892):1593–1596. doi: 10.1136/bmj.306.6892.1593. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Dyer Clare. High Court says advance directives are binding. BMJ. 1993 Oct 23;307(6911):1023–1024. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Emanuel L. L., Barry M. J., Stoeckle J. D., Ettelson L. M., Emanuel E. J. Advance directives for medical care--a case for greater use. N Engl J Med. 1991 Mar 28;324(13):889–895. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199103283241305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fairman R. P. Withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. Lessons from Nancy Cruzan. Arch Intern Med. 1992 Jan;152(1):25–27. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Gillick M. R., Hesse K., Mazzapica N. Medical technology at the end of life. What would physicians and nurses want for themselves? Arch Intern Med. 1993 Nov 22;153(22):2542–2547. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Heap M. J., Munglani R., Klinck J. R., Males A. G. Elderly patients' preferences concerning life-support treatment. Anaesthesia. 1993 Dec;48(12):1027–1033. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1993.tb07519.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hope T. Advance directives about medical treatment. BMJ. 1992 Feb 15;304(6824):398–398. doi: 10.1136/bmj.304.6824.398. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. La Puma J., Orentlicher D., Moss R. J. Advance directives on admission. Clinical implications and analysis of the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990. JAMA. 1991 Jul 17;266(3):402–405. doi: 10.1001/jama.266.3.402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Mitchell K. R., Kerridge I. H., Lovat T. J. Medical futility, treatment withdrawal and the persistent vegetative state. J Med Ethics. 1993 Jun;19(2):71–76. doi: 10.1136/jme.19.2.71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mower W. R., Baraff L. J. Advance directives. Effect of type of directive on physicians' therapeutic decisions. Arch Intern Med. 1993 Feb 8;153(3):375–381. doi: 10.1001/archinte.153.3.375. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Petersdorf R. G. Fever of unknown origin. An old friend revisited. Arch Intern Med. 1992 Jan;152(1):21–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Robertson G. S. Dealing with the brain-damaged old--dignity before sanctity. J Med Ethics. 1982 Dec;8(4):173–179. doi: 10.1136/jme.8.4.173. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Robertson G. S. Ethical dilemmas of brain failure in the elderly. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983 Dec 10;287(6407):1775–1777. doi: 10.1136/bmj.287.6407.1775. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Robertson G. S. Resuscitation and senility: a study of patients' opinions. J Med Ethics. 1993 Jun;19(2):104–107. doi: 10.1136/jme.19.2.104. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Stelter K. L., Elliott B. A., Bruno C. A. Living will completion in older adults. Arch Intern Med. 1992 May;152(5):954–959. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Virmani J., Schneiderman L. J., Kaplan R. M. Relationship of advance directives to physician-patient communication. Arch Intern Med. 1994 Apr 25;154(8):909–913. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from BMJ : British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES