Paliatívna medicína a liečba bolesti 1-2e/2017

Previously expressed wishes and do-not-resuscitate order in Slovak law

Institute of previously expressed wishes is widespread within the laws of the United States. On the other hand, in Europe, previously expressed wishes are legally binding in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary and Finland. Although French law as well contains legal institute of this kind, it is considered be as recommendation, not legally binding. The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine contains this legal institute and is therefore directly applicable in the Slovak Republic. Unfortunately, detailed national legal regulation is missing. The authors elaborate on consequences of this legal state and propose the codification of the do-not-resuscitate order and previously expressed wishes.

Keywords: Slovakia, legislation & jurisprudence, advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders