Advanced decision

[OddBoots]

I'm fit and well and not quite 40 yet but it's just occurred to me that although I have made a will I have never made and advanced decision.

I know I would hate to be kept alive indefinitely if I were (for example) to be in a car accident and have brain damage that means I lose capacity and I don't recognise people or can't interact with people.

I have filled in the one on mydecisions.org.uk and it feels good to have got my decisions clear but I guess that hard bit will be telling people and coping with their reactions. I need to sign it in front of a witness, I guess a friend would be best, someone who wouldn't normally be involved in my health decisions so they are independent. I don't want to take up a GP appointment for it so I am tempted to just post it to my GP with a covering letter (I'm not sure it that would be acceptable).

Has anyone else done one of these or have any thoughts about the best thing to do now?

I have one. I made it a couple of years ago (aged 26) because I was having surgery on my spinal cord that had a 5% chance of death or paralysis from the neck down.

My GP was happy to discuss it with me, and as a result of the conversation, I altered some things (added that I would not want life-saving treatment with antibiotics, and changed how long I would want to spend in various states of consciousness). I think you would need to see a health professional, as he had to make sure that I was fully able to consent, and was not being coerced into a decision. My decision was signed by him as well as 2 other witnesses.

I think it is important to discuss with family, but I approached with the angle that if anything happened, I would rather that they didn't have the added pressure of trying to make decisions on my behalf. I also asked my parents for their input, as they would be the ones affected. Everyone I have told has reacted well, though I have only told people I am very close to. I had one of my parents, and a friend witness it. As well as my GP, each of my hospitals know I have an advanced decision and I have a copy with my parents. Good luck with the decision (and apologies for waffling!)