Only half of GPs in study knew that advance directives carry legal force in UK

This letter by Kevin Stewart and colleagues (9 January 1999, p 123) wrongly referred to the Sidaway case when making the point that patients detained under the Mental Health Act can make a valid directive concerning treatment that is not covered by the terms of their detention. A more suitable reference would have been to Re C. (Adult: Refusal of Treatment) [1994] 1 All ER 819.