Compassion in Dying
Death is inevitable …. one day it will come to us all, yet despite a poll showing that 70% of us would like little or no medical intervention at the end of life the vast majority put off making decisions known and get down to recording them. Until today I was no different .
These decisions are made by healthcare professionals or family or friends when the time comes in the absence of an Advance Decision or Lasting Power of Attorney.
Compassion in Dying is the only national charity that supports people at the end of life to have what they consider to be a good death.
This is done by providing information and support around their rights and choices. They are the leading provider of free Advance Decisions in the UK and conduct and review research into rights and choices in end-of-life care. This link takes yo directly to the PDF to print of your copy .Pages 2-9 are the actual form, other pages contain information regarding completing the form.
Compassion in Dying run a free confidential End-of-Life Rights Information Line 0800 999 2434
They are able to answer any questions you have about your end-of-life rights, or support you to talk through your options for care and treatment.
Questions and concerns commonly answered include:
- Who makes the decisions about my care and treatment?
- How can I make sure my healthcare decisions will be respected if I lose mental capacity?
- Which treatments can I refuse or request?
- How can I make sure that the relevant people are aware of my wishes?
- What if my wishes aren’t respected?
- What support is available?
- How do I represent a loved one who is unable to make decisions?
- What do I do if I am concerned about the treatment my loved one is receiving?
Their Vision
A world in which everyone has access to the care and support that is right for them at the end of life.
Meaning
- access to expert information about end-of-life options;
- support to make informed choices;
- care that meets your needs.
Their Mission
To support people to plan what they consider to be a good death.
They do so by:
- providing up-to-date information about end-of-life rights under current UK law;
- supporting people to ensure their wishes can be respected;
- conducting and reviewing research into rights and choices in end-of-life care.
Compassion in Dying work in partnership with the campaigning organisation Dignity in Dying, which campaigns for a change in the law to allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to have the choice of an assisted death.
You wouldn’t leave the planning of your wedding to someone else without any input from yourself so why leave your end of life choices in the hands of someone else.
