Advance Directives Document: knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals in Colombia / Documento Voluntades Anticipadas: conocimientos y experiencias de los profesionales de la salud en Colombia

Abstract Introduction: The Advanced Directives Document (ADD) is a bioethical quality benchmark for healthcare and assurance of compliance with the rights of autonomy, self-determination and dignity of the patient. This document was established over the past decade and currently there is no evidence about the attitudes and knowledge of the healthcare professionals with regards to the use of this tool in clinical practice in Colombia. Objective: To describe the knowledge and experiences of healthcare professionals members of six Colombian Scientific Societies regarding the right to sign an ADD and explore the barriers to its applicability in clinical daily practice. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted using an anonymous and voluntary e-survey with the participation of six Colombian Medical Societies. A questionnaire was designed comprising five groups of variables: general, ADD knowledge, medical experiences and personal experiences regarding advanced directives and potential obstacles to its implementation. Results: 533 professionals participated in the survey. 54 % (n = 286) expressed their lack of awareness about the fact that there is law governing the ADD in Colombia; 34.33 % (n = 183) said they were familiar with the requirements of the document. Over the last year, 24 % of the professionals received one or more ADDs from their patients. Only 11.7 % of healthcare practitioners had themselves completed an ADD. 77.1 % of the professionals surveyed believe that the number of individuals with an ADD has not changed after the approval and regulation of the right to an advanced directives document. 86.6 % of the practitioners said they respected the ADD, notwithstanding the fact that the patient could benefit otherwise. Conclusions: The overall perception of healthcare professionals with regards to the number of ADDs signed by patients is that the number has not changed after the approval of the Law in Colombia. This study evidenced that medical practitioners have a poor knowledge about the ADD and that there is a need to educate healthcare professionals about the ADD and to promptly implement institutional programs about Planning of Advanced Directives (PAD). Both strategies are challenging for the applicability of AD in Colombia.

Resumen Introducción: El Documento Voluntades Anticipadas (DVA) es un referente bioético de calidad de atención en salud y garantía de cumplimiento de los derechos de autonomía, autodeterminación y dignidad de los pacientes. Este documento fue reglamentado en la última década, y actualmente, no existe evidencia sobre las actitudes y conocimientos de los profesionales de la salud sobre el uso de esta herramienta en la práctica clínica en Colombia. Objetivo: Describir los conocimientos y experiencias de los profesionales de la salud pertenecientes a seis sociedades científicas colombianas frente al derecho de suscribir el DVA e investigar sobre las barreras para la aplicabilidad del DVA en la práctica clínica diaria. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, realizado mediante encuesta electrónica anónima y voluntaria en seis sociedades médicas colombianas. Se diseñó un cuestionario compuesto por cinco grupos de variables: generales, conocimiento de DVA, experiencias médicas y experiencias personales sobre voluntad anticipada y posibles limitaciones para su aplicación. Resultados: Participaron 533 profesionales. El 54 % (n = 286) afirmó no saber que existe la ley que regula el DVA en Colombia; un 34,33 % (n = 183) manifestó conocer los requisitos que debe cumplir dicho documento. En el último año, el 24 % de los profesionales recibió de sus pacientes uno o más DVA. Solo el 11,7 % de los profesionales de salud tenía un DVA elaborado. El 77,1 % de los encuestados perciben que el número de personas con DVA sigue igual después de aprobado y reglamentado el derecho de DVA. El 86,6 % de los profesionales de salud aseguraron respetar el DVA, aunque el paciente pueda beneficiarse de lo contrario. Conclusiones: La percepción general de los profesionales de la salud sobre el número de DVA suscrito por los pacientes sigue igual después de reglamentada la Ley en Colombia. Este estudio permitió evidenciar que los profesionales de la salud poseen poco conocimiento sobre el DVA. Es indispensable capacitar a todos los profesionales de salud sobre el DVA y la pronta implementación institucional de programas sobre Planificación de Decisiones Anticipadas (PDA). Ambas estrategias constituyen un desafío para la aplicabilidad de las VA en Colombia.

Diretivas antecipadas de vontade: benefícios, obstáculos e limites / Directivas anticipadas de voluntad: beneficios, obstáculos y limitaciones / The advance directive: benefits, obstacles and limits

O conceito de diretivas antecipadas de vontade emergiu em resposta ao avanço tecnológico e ao tratamento médico agressivo empregados em situações ambíguas, como no caso de um prognóstico ruim. O cerne do presente documento é o exercício da autonomia do paciente. A Resolução 1.995/12 do Conselho Federal de Medicina estabelece os critérios para que qualquer pessoa - desde que maior de idade e plenamente consciente - possa definir junto ao seu médico quais os limites terapêuticos na fase final de sua vida. O documento é facultativo e poderá ser elaborado em qualquer momento da vida e da mesma maneira modificado ou revogado a qualquer tempo. Este artigo tem por propósito discorrer sobre seus benefícios, obstáculos e limites, considerando o vasto número de pesquisas realizadas sobre o tema e as experiências positivas e negativas de outros países no intuito de contribuir para a discussão de sua efetiva utilização no Brasil...

El concepto de directivas anticipadas de voluntad surgió en respuesta al avance tecnológico y al tratamiento médico agresivo, utilizándoselo en situaciones ambiguas, como ante un pronóstico negativo. El núcleo de este documento consiste en el ejercicio de la autonomía del enfermo. La Resolución 1.995/2012 del Consejo Federal de Medicina establece los criterios para que cualquier persona - mayor de edad y plenamente consciente - pueda definir, junto con su médico, los límites terapéuticos en la fase final de su vida. El documento es opcional y puede llevarse a cabo en cualquier momento de la vida y la misma manera modificada o revocada en cualquier forma y tiempo. El propósito de este artículo es discutir los beneficios, obstáculos y las limitaciones considerando la gran cantidad de investigaciones realizada sobre el tema y las experiencias positivas y negativas de otros países, con el fin de aportar a la discusión sobre su utilización de manera efectiva en Brasil...

The concept of advance directives emerged in response to the technological progress and aggressive medical treatment being employed in ambiguous situations, as in the case of a bad prognosis. The core of this document is the exercise of the patients´ autonomy. The Federal Council of Medicine´s 1.995/2012 Resolution establishes the criteria for anyone - provided that the patient is legally old enough and fully aware - to be able to choose together with his/her doctor the therapeutic limits at the end of life. The document is optional and may be completed at any time in life and, in the same way it can be modified or cancelled at any time. The purpose of this article is to consider its benefits, obstacles and limits considering the vast amount of researches carried out on this theme and the positive and negative experiences from other countries in order to contribute to the discussion about its effective use in Brazil...

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the elderly: a clinical and ethical perspective / 老年心脏病学杂志（英文版）

The daily practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in elderly patients has brought up the attention of outcome research and resource allocation. Determinants to predict survival have been well identified. There has been empirical evidence that CPR is of doubtful utility in the geriatric population, more studies have showed controversial data. Sometimes situations in which CPR needs to be given in the elderly, causes stress to healthcare providers, due to lack of communication of the patient's wishes and the belief that it will not be successful. It is of importance to state that we have the duty to identify on time the patients that will most likely benefit from CPR, and find out the preferences of the same. Whenever it is possible to institute these guidelines, we will avoid patient suffering.

The New Types of Informed Consent

Informed consent is an essential issue in medical practice. Recently, new types of informed consent have emerged from doctor-patient relationship. Genetic studies using patients' specimens are regulated by the "Bioethics and Biosafety Act", which mandates every genetic study be performed with given written informed consent. Clinical trials for drug development are regulated by the Korea Good Clinical Practice, which requires a review and approval process by the Institutional Review Board. Organ donation is regulated by the "Organ Donation Act". Informed consent from family members is important for organ donation of the deceased and minors. It is recommended that terminally ill patients have advance directives, but we do not have relevant legislation on this. New types of informed consent stress the justifiable intervention of the Parens Patriae and neutral third party. Along with the legalization, these should be summarized to prevent unnecessary conflicts.