The Irish Hospice Foundation and the "Think Ahead" Initiative

11th December 2014

I hope you all had a good Christmas! Our apologies for not posting for a while, but we've had exams and then Christmas mania and we're only now getting back to work! 

On Thursday the 11th of December, mid exam season, myself and
Rachel met with Angela Edghill of the Irish Hospice Foundation to discuss our campaign. The meeting was extremely productive and we left with our notebooks full of new ideas and contacts. The most interesting thing that we discussed was the Irish Hospice Foundation's initiative "Think Ahead" and how it is linked to the Capacity Bill.

Think Ahead is a campaign focusing on "living wills" or Advanced Healthcare Directives. An Advanced Healthcare Directive is a document in which a capable adult sets out what medical procedures and treatments they would not want should they lose capacity to make these decisions in the future - even if refusing these treatments leads to their death. They will also be able to indicate what treatments they would like - however this will not be legally binding, as ultimately it is the doctors decision as to which treatments are suitable. The Capacity Bill will include a provision, making the documents legally binding if they meet the following conditions: 

1. You must be over 18 in order to make an Advanced Healthcare Directive
2. The person must have capacity when writing the directive
3. The directive must be in writing
4. The person must state the specific treatments they are refusing, and the situations in which the refusal applies
5. It must be witnessed - this is in order to prevent people from being forced to make decisions against their will

Currently in Ireland, anyone can make such a directive, however there are no laws outlining how they should be made and how doctors should treat these directives if there is a dispute about its validity. The new provision states what steps need to be followed in order to make these documents legally binding, provides a structure to manage disputes and will allow people to appoint a representative, should they need someone to make decisions for them. The document can be changed at any time, if the person has capacity. 

This provision will bring Ireland into line with international laws and conventions. It will help doctors treat patients who have lost capacity, and, most importantly, it will ensure that people do not have to undergo a treatment that they do not want. 

Any of us could lose our capacity to make decisions in the future - whether that be due to an illness such as dementia, traumatic brain injuries or falling into a coma. It is important that our right to make decisions regarding our health is acknowledged, and the best way to do so is by writing an Advanced Healthcare Directive. 

If anyone would like more information about the "Think Ahead" initiative, or Advanced Healthcare Directives there are some excellent resources available on the Think Ahead website. The Irish Hospice Foundation also has a page containing a series of video's explaining Advanced Healthcare Directives, with experts outlining different aspects of the legislation and how it will be implemented. Patricia Rickard Clarke, a former Justice Commisioner, has also written an excellent article on thejournal.ie about the importance of these directives. 

Talk to you again! 

Patricia :)