Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 Explanatory Notes

Section 99 – Relationship between advance decisions and lasting powers of attorney

Any LPA that gives the attorney authority to give or refuse consent to treatment is subject to any effective advance decision made at the same time or after the LPA is made. So if the LPA gives authority to the attorney to consent or refuse treatment and then the donor makes an advance decision refusing consent to such treatment, that later personal choice prevails. If an effective advance decision regarding treatment is already in place, the section provides that the advance decision is withdrawn by the making of a LPA which gives the attorney authority to consent or refuse the relevant treatment.

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