Advance care planning in progressive neurological conditions is an essential part of care, allowing individuals to make decisions and record their wishes regarding the care they receive in the future. Nurses are ideally placed to become involved in this process and should understand how they can assist patients, carers and families through a dynamic process of consultation and discussion. This article considers the process of advance care planning in relation to progressive neurological conditions and discusses how the Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the legislation within which professionals must work.
Nursing Standard. 29, 21, 51-59. doi: 10.7748/ns.29.21.51.e9192
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double blind peer review
Received: 03 June 2014
Accepted: 29 September 2014
Keywords :
end of life care - care planning - care plans - advance care planning - ethics - advance decisions - advance directives - living wills - withdrawing treatment - withholding treatment - neurology - nervous system diseases - Huntington's disease - Parkinson's - Parkinson's disease - law - legislation - Mental Capacity Act - lasting power of attorney
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