Almost 2,000 Lanzarote residents have prepared living wills, setting out their wishes in the case of serious illness or disability. The island has more holders of living wills than any of the other Canary Islands.
A living will is a series of instructions provided so that health professionals can make decisions more easily. In it, a patient can state clearly whether they wish to donate organs, accept or refuse certain treatments, or have their bodies left for research.
The document also allows patients to state whether they want family members present in their final hours, whether they desire religious attention and whether they would prefer to die at home (if possible).
82.8% of the Lanzarote cases have chosen to consider assisted dying as an option in the case of serious and incurable conditions.
Almost twice as many women as men have completed a living will on the island, with 1,284 female applicants compared to 653 males.
Anyone interested in completing a living will (Manifestacion Anticipada de Voluntad) can begin the process by arranging an appointment on 012 or 928 301 012.
