Directivas anticipadas y nombramiento judicial de tutela limitada (amministrazione di sostegno) en Italia

The Italian figure of limited guardian (“Amministratore di sostegno”, introduced by law n. 6/2004) has recently achieved new application through abundant case law which concedes the possibility, for the limited guardian, to take health care decisions regarding incapacitated adults, in accordance with their previously-advanced directive. However, Italian judges do not agree about the letter of the law, i.e. about legitimating such use of the limited guardian. For this reason, we now have a considerable number of judges’ decisions allowing this possibility, and a similar number which deny it. Thus, it is important to examine the position of doctors when faced with both kinds of judges’ decisions. Sumario: I. Tutela limitada y decisiones sobre atención médica. II. Tutela limitada y directivas anticipadas. III. La posición de los galenos dependiendo la resolución judicial. IV. Conclusiones.