This book is the authoritative statement from the BMA Medical Ethics Department on one of the most fundamental and contentious issues for health care professionals, of when to withhold or withdraw life–prolonging treatment. It is used by doctors and nurses throughout the United Kingdom who care for the dying, as well as lawyers and others in the health professions seeking guidance on this controversial issue. Use of summary boxes with key recommendations and discussions of real cases interspersed through the text will make the new edition even more practical and easy to use. Important new features for the third edition: • Inclusion of the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act, which comes into force in April 2007 • Guidance on the appointment of welfare attorneys to make health care decisions once capacity is lost. • The latest policy on advance directives • Update on the impact of the Human Rights Act on such decisions • Discussion of recent cases,...