Advance directive: Historical course in latin America

Abstract

Advance directives are instruments to guarantee the patient the right to decide about their health care, especially those related to the end of life. In this article, through an integrative review of the literature conducted between December 2017 and January 2018, the objective was to understand the use of this instrument and to trace its historical course in Latin American countries that already have a consolidated legislation, such as Puerto Rico, Argentina, México, Uruguay and Colombia. In Brazil, since there is still no law on the subject, the directives are treated and discussed through Resolution 1995/2012 of the Federal Council of Medicine, which may generate legal uncertainty in those involved. It was observed, as a common feature in the countries studied, difficulty in the dissemination and use of this resource.