The advance directives institute in the context of discussions on assisted dying.

Abstract

The advance directives institute represents a legally established instrument that allows patients to define their wishes and preferences regarding the provision of health care in advance, for situations in which they lose decision-making capacity. Although advance directives have been part of the Czech legal framework since 2012, their practical use remains limited and systematic data on their implementation are lacking. The aim of this article is to summarize available knowledge regarding the awareness of the Czech public and healthcare professionals about advance directives, identify the main barriers to their use, and place these findings in the context of current debates about end-of-life decision-making.