Advance Directives from the Point of View of Primary Care Physicians in Spain

摘要

Advance directives have been regulated in Spain since 2002 via a law that defines the advance directives document as one by which a person of legal age, who is capable and free, manifests his or her will in advance so that it is fulfilled should the person lose the capacity to make medical decisions about his or her care and treatment. In case of death, the advance directive states what is to be done with the person's body or organs. Despite the time elapsed since advance directives were enacted, the general population has not made widespread use of them. One barrier to their widespread use may be that health care professionals have limited knowledge about advance directives. The main objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of family physicians toward advance directives.