Abstract
Life presents each of us with the reality of our own death and the death of others. The big question that hovers over the end stage of life is the attitude adopted by each one: life and death, its meaning varies from one culture to another and, particularly, by the beliefs according to which we live. This publication intends to contribute to the resolution of doubts as to when and how to draw up an advance directive, popularly known as a living will, as, for now, this is not a socially widespread practice and it does not arrive to 3/1,000 individuals that meet the requirements to grant it if they have decided to do so. And at the same time, this article helps to remember aspects such as dignity, freedom and confidence which, in the end stage of life, attain an ever greater significance. This document of advance directives, which is not without controversy, allows any and all capable individuals to leave evidence of the health care or medical treatments he/she would like to receive if, when the time has come, he/she were unable to make decisions or were unable to express them him/ herself. Properly used, it can be an effective instrument for clinical relationships.
Highlights
Gracias a la evolución de la biotecnología se consiguieron nuevos tratamientos que permitieron sanar enfermedades hasta ahora incurables o mejorar la calidad de vida de muchos pacientes
The big question that hovers over the end stage of life is the attitude adopted by each one: life and death, its meaning varies from one culture to another and, by the beliefs according to which we live
This publication intends to contribute to the resolution of doubts as to when and how to draw up an advance directive, popularly known as a living will, as, for this is not a socially widespread practice and it does not arrive to 3/1,000 individuals that meet the requirements to grant it if they have decided to do so
Summary
La relación médico-paciente evolucionó de manera sustancial a partir de mediados del siglo XX. Pero fue sin duda la pérdida de confianza del paciente en el buen hacer del médico debido al descubrimiento de las actuaciones de algunos facultativos contrarias a la lex artis, como el caso Krugman respecto del Willowbrook State School Hepatitis Study, o los experimentos realizados en Alabama conocidos como Tuskegee Syphilis Study lo que tuvo más peso [1]. Con la implantación de estas tecnologías que podían al mismo tiempo aportar grandes beneficios al ser humano o causarle graves daños [2], surgieron algunas dudas acerca de si hacer en medicina todo lo técnicamente posible era éticamente aceptable y se evidenció la necesidad de poner límites. El enfermo quería y quiere participar en el proceso de su enfermedad, ser informado de todo cuanto afecta a su salud y tener la última palabra sobre los cuidados o tratamientos que desea recibir y hasta dónde quiere llegar. Con la finalidad de dar respuesta pacífica a estas situaciones nace el testamento vital
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