By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

Doctors, religious leaders and dying people's family members are engaged in a fresh round of debate over ``death with dignity'' after Seoul National University (SNU) Hospital set out guidelines for the stoppage of ``meaningless treatment'' of dying patients that just extends a painful life.

While there are reportedly a handful of people lined up to take the option, the Catholic Church, which had been positive about the move, openly criticized the guidelines saying they could lead to euthanasia, considered an assisted form of suicide.

The hospital said Tuesday that its ethics committee passed the guidelines, which had already been followed on 72-year-old Kim Ok-kyung, for whom the Supreme Court allowed the removal of life-support systems.

The guidelines allow the same procedure for patients with cancer, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and chronic illnesses when they are at a terminal stage, as well as brain dead persons if a consensus is reached by doctors and family members. Documents signed by the patient when they are conscious are also required.

If the patient fails to sign a non-resuscitation/ no treatment request, family members can sign the form on their behalf, based on what they said throughout their life.

According to research by the National Cancer Center, 62.3 percent of 1,019 respondents said patients should make their own decisions on treatment.

Prof. Heo Dae-seok, who heads the committee, said, ``Such guidelines by no means, support euthanasia, in which death inducing drugs are administered.'' He said the hospital would recommend hospice service or other ways to maintain life in a more meaningful way.

The guidelines state that if doctors are undecided on specific cases, they should refer them to the ethics committee. If no conclusion is reached a court ruling must be sought.

The SNU rules are expected to help the Korean Medical Association which will set its own regulations on ``death with dignity'' in September.

However, the life ethics committee of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul said death with dignity could be another form of euthanasia, should the SNU guidelines adopted.

``Refusing to use a ventilator and removing it are two separate things. We oppose the removal of a feeding tube because if a patient's life can be maintained through eating, then we shouldn't assist in their death,'' Bishop Jang Bong-hun stated.

The SNU hospital started receiving do not resuscitate documents from May 19, and 11 terminal stage cancer patients signed them. Seven have since died without ``extensive and excessive treatment.''

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr