[From the Advance Directives to the Advance Care Planning]

In the last decade we have witnessed a significant legislative transformation with regard to the death and dignity process, and respect the decision of the people in this framework. In that way, different legislation at regional level in our country have been articulated to ensure the right of patients to produce documents of advanced directives or living will. This fact has highlighted the need not only to legal regulation, but a deep change in the pattern of relationship between health professional and patient. Advance planning of healthcare (PAAS) represents an important step in respect for patient autonomy and the desire to involve the person in the decision making process, in matters relating to his own death. This process is developed in order to find solutions to ensure the autonomy and freedom of those who, from a given moment, have lost the ability to make decisions. In this model of care, the role of nursing is not only necessary but essential.