Advance care planning in general practice: promoting patient autonomy and shared decision making

Advance care planning is a process of formal decision making to help patients establish decisions about their future care which takes effect when they lose capacity to make decisions for themselves. Previous terms and concepts used in the UK include 'living wills' and 'advance directives'. Advance care planning is important in identifying early palliative care needs and recognising the end of life. 2 Other benefits include less aggressive medical care and an improved quality of life near death. It also helps families prepare for the death of a loved one, resolve family conflict, and cope with bereavement.