The Guide on the decision-making process regarding medical treatment in end-of-life situations was drawn up by the Committee on Bioethics (DH‑BIO) of the Council of Europe in the course of its work on patients rights and with the intention of facilitating the implementation of the principles enshrined in the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention, ETS No. 164, 1997).

The purpose of this guide is to serve as a useful tool for informing the public and training professionals. It is aimed at health professionals, patients, their families and all those who face problematic decisions with regard to medical treatment in end-of-life situations, and provides help for the development of practices. The guide is also a source of material for any discussion held within our societies on the decision-making process regarding medical treatment in end-of-life situations in that it proposes benchmarks relating both to the practices and the principles that can be applied in this context.