In a statement today, Elspeth Chowdharay-Best, Hon. Secretary of Alert said:

"'Dignity in Dying' (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society) has sent out advice with their new Advance Decision by which signatories refuse 'treatment' in hospital if they should lose capacity.

"They say correctly that in order to ensure that an existing Living Will is binding under the Mental Capacity Act 'you must write the following statement in the section referring to the refusal of life-sustaining treatment: The decisions set out in my living will apply, even if my life is at risk as a result.'

"This will not worry anyone trying to avoid a long-drawn-out painful death. Unfortunately that is exactly what people registering Advance Decisions like this are signing up for. They are not told that 'treatment' includes food and water if given through a tube. By the time they have lost the power to speak for themselves, perhaps following a stroke from which they could recover, that is how they will need to be given water. But from October 1st, doctors are forbidden by law to let them have it.

"Death from thirst is exceptionally painful, and may take longer than a week."

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