Manifestation of patient’s anticipated will as dysthanasia inhibiting factor

Abstract

This study was conducted through interviews with physicians from the Association of Santa Catarina Midwestern Municipalities region (AMMOC). The objective was to evaluate if the patient’s anticipated will are respected by doctors, when he is unable to communicate and whether this manifestation is considered a valid dysthanasia inhibiting instrument. The results indicated that physicians considered as a convenient record of patient’s wishes by means of anticipated will statement and they would respect them, respectively, with a score of 7.68 and 8.26 on a scale of 0 to 10. It was also found that physicians consider them a useful tool for decision-making with evaluation of 7.57. These data allow for supposing that the ethical and legal regulation of anticipated will comprises a suitable measure to respect patient’s autonomy and a relevant factor to inhibiting dysthanasia.