Advance statements, also referred to as advance directives or advance agreements, are an expression of the wishes of someone who experiences mental illness about the type of care and treatment to be provided if they become unwell.
The three names are often used interchangeably although the British Medical Association's Code of Practice, Advance Statements About Medical Treatment defines each separately as:
Advance statements - "People who understand the implications of their choices can state in advance how they wish to be treated if they suffer loss of mental capacity". Among the different types of statements are advance directives.
Advance directives (refusals) - "Competent, informed adults have an established legal right to refuse medical procedures in advance". Directives are valid as a decision made at the time treatment options are being considered. These are rarely used for people with mental health problems because they can be overridden by the Mental Health Act.
Advance agreement - Refers to a plan for a future crisis, developed in agreement between service user and service provider. Agreements are referred to in the Government's draft Mental Health Bill.
This factsheet explains how and why these statements/directives/agreements are used.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that single copies of individual fact sheets are available free of charge to users of mental health services and their carers, but multiple copies are chargeable to organisations at the rates shown per copy. Photocopying of fact sheets by organisations is strictly prohibited.
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