Advance directives: perspective of the multidisciplinary health team

Authors

Abstract

Patients with terminal illnesses often have reduced or no autonomy regarding their end-of-life wishes.
This study aimed to identify the meanings attributed to advance directives and living wills among health
professionals working in a highly complex general hospital. 21 professionals from multidisciplinary teams
were interviewed. In total, four categories emerged from the qualitative analysis of the responses:
understanding patient autonomy; professionals’ experiences with terminally ill patients and family
involvement; the implementation of advance directives in Brazil; and knowledge about living wills.
Conflicts were observed among the wishes of patients, families, and the healthcare team, as well as a
need for advance care planning and further guidance for professionals.

Keywords:

Advance Directives, Autonomy, Health Professionals

Author Biographies

Janaína Aparecida de Sales Floriano, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Janaína Aparecida de Sales Floriano – Mestre – janaina.floriano@edu.famerp.br
0009-0008-7090-2268

Giuliano Citrini Stipkovic , Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Giuliano Citrini Stipkovic – Mestre – giuliano.stipkovic@edu.famerp.br
0000-0003-1728-1737

Neide Aparecida Micelli Domingos, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Neide Aparecida Micelli Domingos – PhD – micellidomingos@famerp.br
0000-0002-9001-4283

Maria Jaqueline Coelho Pinto, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Maria Jaqueline Coelho Pinto – Doutora – psijaqueline@famerp.br
0000-0001-5880-2362

Homalie Mascarin do Vale, Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Homaile Mascarin do Vale – PhD – homaile@homaile.com.br
0000-0002-1218-8093

Eudes Quintino de Oliveira Júnior , Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Eudes Quintino de Oliveira Júnior – PhD – eudesojr@hotmail.com
0000-0003-2797-4254

Maria Cristina de Oliveira Santos Miyazaki, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto/SP, Brasil.

Maria Cristina de Oliveira Santos Miyazaki – PhD – cmiyazaki@famerp.br
0000-0002-6792-4529

Vol. 33 (2025): Continued publication

Published:

2025-11-28

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420253939PT

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How to Cite

1.
de Sales Floriano JA, Citrini Stipkovic G, Micelli Domingos NA, Coelho Pinto MJ, Mascarin do Vale H, Quintino de Oliveira Júnior E, et al. Advance directives: perspective of the multidisciplinary health team. Rev. Bioét. [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 28 [cited 2026 May 9];33. Available from: https://revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/3939

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