New legislation has been passed in the Canary Isles (Decree 13/2006 dated 8th February - B.O.C. 43, 2.3.2006) regarding living wills (testamento vital).

This law will allow all individuals in the Canary Islands to prepare a letter which will be given to doctors and hospitals with instructions regarding their medical treatment and care that they wish to receive in the case of illness or injury. This document will be especially useful in situations where it is not possible for you to express your wishes. There is now a registry of living wills in the Canary Islands. If you decide to write a living will, you can appoint representatives to carry out your wishes and these instructions will become an essential guide for your doctors. The procedure is quite simple but it is always a good idea to consult a lawyer. It is not essential to have a living will as normally your relatives and doctors make any necessary decisions for you, but it can be a good idea because of the language barrier and because of legal and cultural differences which make communication difficult. All foreigners staying in Spain should at least consider the possibility of making one.

Jose Escobedo
Abogado - Lawyer

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C.C San Eugenio local 81
Playa de las Américas, Tenerife

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