Advance statement case study

A patient is being treated as an in-patient in Hospital X. He is encouraged by one of the nurses involved in his care to make an advance statement. The patient and nurse meet to discuss and draft his statement. The patient says that he wants his advance statement to say that, in future, he would not wish to be treated with Clozapine.

The patient is currently being treated with Clozapine, which is regarded by the clinical team as being a highly effective treatment for his illness. The patient has not indicated that he is unhappy with his current treatment. In fact, during a visit with a Mental Welfare Commissioner he indicated that he was satisfied with his treatment and that he recognised that Clozapine was working well for him where other treatments had not.

The nurse involved signs and witnesses the patient's advance statement saying that Clozapine should not be used in future. The patient continues to be treated with Clozapine.

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