Advance directives during gestation. Bioethical aspects and legislation in Mexico

Abstract

Advance directives are not yet legislated in all the states of the Mexican Republic. In some of the states where they are legislated, their validity during the gestation period is expressly prohibited. The above represents important bioethical and legal dilemmas, which we review to clarify the various questions that arise regarding the protection of both the baby and the pregnant mother. We conclude that there is a need to develop a federal law that homologizes advance directives, guaranteeing a dignified death to all Mexicans, and that establishes that in the case of a pregnant woman, advice should be sought by a bioethics committee to help determine in each particular case, the conditions that favor the development and survival of the baby, whenever possible, without resorting to extraordinary treatments and/or measures that put at risk the dignified death and free of suffering of the mother.