The majority of the population wishes to die at home. However, most patients die in hospitals or nursing homes. What do health care professionals know about the choices of their patients in this matter? This study concerns persons who died from natural causes during the 1st semester of 2013 in 2 districts of the canton of Vaud. 241 of their health care professionals answered a questionnaire. Only 35.6 % knew their patient's wishes pertaining to where their death should take place. Despite the opportunity to speak about it with one's GP, the issue is not usually raised. If the patients give oral or written advance directives, their wishes are respected in 66.8 % of cases. Given the high value placed nowadays on patient autonomy, providing training on end of life care to physicians could help them approach this subject with greater ease.