Recently, due to the progress of modern medicine, physicians get into situation when the patient is unable to decide about his treatment, but the decision has to be done and moreover with all respect to fundamental principles of medical ethics. There are two principal questions: „How to make the decision?“ and „Who should make the decision“. The answer is more complicated and in this article I am trying to show some possible approaches.

        Key words: incompetent patient, advance directive, decision about treatment