Advance directives in France: keeping a current, findable version

In France, an adult can write advance directives stating end-of-life care wishes for a time when they cannot express their will. While you can still express yourself, your current decisions remain central to the discussion with the care team.

The directives are a written, dated and signed document giving your surname, given names, date and place of birth. You can use the official template or plain paper. The template helps organise the writing; using it is not compulsory.

Ask your clinician to explain the situations and procedures you want to address. The aim is to state your own wishes about continuing, limiting, stopping or declining care, in words that you understand. If you have a plan personnalisé d’accompagnement, French law requires you to attach this personalised support plan to the directives.

Advance directives have no fixed expiry, but you can change or cancel them at any time. If several versions exist, the most recent takes precedence. After a change, give the new version to the people or organisations that held the previous one.

The directives are binding on the clinician, with two exceptions: a life-threatening emergency during the full assessment, or directives that are manifestly inappropriate or inconsistent with the medical situation. Refusal on the second ground requires a collective medical procedure and a record in the medical file.

To make the document findable, tell your clinician and those close to you that it exists and where it is kept. Mon espace santé can hold it; you can also give a copy to your clinician or someone close to you. Update these locations when your wishes change.