[Information to be provided to patients and their caregivers. The Italian Law 219/2017 on informed consent, advance directives, and do not attempt resuscitation order].

The Italian law 219/2017, enacted on January 31, 2018, regulates patients' informed consent, personalized care planning and advance directives. The law provides for patient's self-determination in all phases of life. This also applies to patients suffering from chronic, progressive, terminal disease such as heart failure. In fact, the clinical and psychosocial trajectory for heart failure patients demands an interdisciplinary, systemic approach. Advance directives should be tailor-made to patient's needs and dynamically updated through the course of the disease according to patient's and family informed and shared decision-making. Healthcare professionals will require education and training to stay up to the task both clinically, psychologically and emotionally.