Decision making at the end of life. The living will
Section: TEACHING TO LEARN
Authors
1Juan Carlos Martínez Ortega, 2Rosa Mª Martínez Ortega, 2Cristina Oter Quintana, 2María Dolores Rubiales Paredes
Position
1Licenciado en Derecho.2Enfermera. Título Superior en Ciencias de la Salud (Enfermería). Profesora EUE de la Comunidad de Madrid.
Contact address
Rosa Martínez. Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería. Avda. Orellana s/n. Recinto del Hospital Severo Ochoa. 28911 Leganés (Madrid)
Contact email: rosa.martinez@salud.madrid.org
Abstract
Development: The objective of this work is to provide information of the currently in force norms and regulations governing the living will or anticipated wishes by performing a critical review of the existing legislation.
Conclusions: The ultimate goal of health care is to win over disease, to alleviate suffering and to promote self-care. To these affirmations we should add a fourth element: to permit the dying person to have a dignified death. The recognition of the living will as a right of the patient represents a first step towards the construction of a more and more humane society.
Keywords:
anticipated wishes in life; bioethics; personal autonomy; legislation and jurisprudencenursing
Versión en Español
Título:
La toma de decisiones en el final de la vida. El testamento vital