Palavras-chave: diretivas antecipadas de vontade; eficácia vinculativa; testamento vital; recusa de tratamento.

Abstract: in this article we describe the process that took place in the Portuguese society for the consecration, with an Act of the Parliament, of the right to an “advanced informed consent”, ie, to write a living will and appoint a health-care proxy. Focusing on the issue of living wills, we analyse the advantages and disadvantages for the patient-physician relationship of this document and analyse briefly the Law no. 25/2012, of July 16th, which, on one hand, proved cautious in requiring a rigorous procedure with Notarial intervention, on the other hand, falls within the group of autonomists legislations, because it stipulates the binding nature of advance statements of willingness.