§ Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department gives to(a) hospital trusts and (b) primary care trusts about the validity of living wills. [139721]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonHealth professionals cannot be required by living wills, or advance directives, to provide particular treatments, since they may not be appropriate. However, advance refusal of treatment may be valid. Guidance on the validity of advance refusals is included in the Department of Health's "Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment" published in March 2001. The reference guide is available at www.doh.gov.uk/consent.