[Last will and testament: decision-making at the end of one's life]. / Testamento vital. La toma de decisiones en el final de la vida.

Current medical practice has made great progress over the past century which permits people to live longer and better than before. But this improvement has not been transferred to the field of death. To die with dignity today is a privilege only a few have. Those close to death claim their right to a death with dignity. Their petition usually goes unheard by the medical profession. The patients' autonomous law, which regulates last will and testaments or anticipated final wishes, is a step in this direction. The objective of this article is to publicize the current legal regulations related to last wills and testaments or last wishes by means of a critical review of the existing legislation.

Testamento vital. La toma de decisiones en el final de la vida / Last will and testament: decision-making at the ende of one´s life

La medicina actual ha realizado grandes progresos en el último siglo consiguiendo que se viva más tiempo y mejor que antes. Pero este avance no se ha trasladado al campo de la muerte. El buen morir es hoy privilegio de unos pocos. El moribundo reclama su derecho a un fin digno. Su petición es, habitualmente, desoída por los profesionales sanitarios. La Ley de Autonomía del paciente, con la regulación del Testamento Vital o Voluntades anticipadas supone un giro en este sentido. El objetivo del presente artículo es dar a conocer la normativa actualmente vigente relacionada con el testamento vital o últimas voluntades mediante una revisión crítica de la legislación existente

Current medical practice has made great process over the past century which permits people to live longer and better than before. But this improvement has not been transferred to the field of death. To die with dignity today is a privilege only a few have. Those close to death claim their right to a death with dignity. Their petition usually goes unheard by the medical profession. The patients´ autonomous law, which regulates last will and testaments or anticipated final wishes, is a step in this direction. The objective of this article is to publicize the current legal regulations related to ast wills and testaments or last wishes by means of a critical review of teh existing legislation