Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people's attitudes to end-of-life decision-making and advance care planning

Abstract

Aim: To examine lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people's attitudes to advance care planning (ACP) options and alternative decision-making at the end of life. Method: Three hundred and five LGBT people completed an online or paper-based questionnaire, comprising fixed-choice questions and open-ended questions. Results: Most respondents, particularly those identifying as female or transgender, preferred a partner to be their alternative decision-maker at the end of life should the need arise. Fifty-two per cent of respondents had spoken to this person about their wishes. Regarding legal options enabling end-of-life decision-making, 29% had an enduring power of attorney, 18% an enduring guardian and 12% an advance care directive. Conclusion: Despite the significance of ACP for promoting the rights of LGBT people at the end of life, the take-up of these options was nearly as low as for the general population. The potential for targeted strategies to increase the take-up of ACP is identified.