Doctor writes book on patients' right to end life
By Park Jin-hai
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“Guide to Accept Death as Part of Life (translated)” by Heo Dae-seog
Ahead of a new law effective from February 4 that enables terminally ill patients to refuse medical care to extend their lives, a renowned doctor and professor who has watched over some 7,000 deaths in his three-decade professional career has published a book on a patient’s right to choose “death with dignity.”
Heo Dae-seog, a professor at Seoul National University Hospital’s hematology and oncology department, has written “Guide to Accept Death as Part of Life (translated),” relating the personal stories of his patients and how their families had to suffer and deal with the issues of their loved ones refusing life-sustaining treatment.
“With the new law imminent, many people, including those working in the medical profession, remain in the dark,” Heo said. “I wrote this book to raise the issue and to think together with all people _ patients, their families and medical staff.”
According to statistics office data, 75 percent of deaths each year are reported at hospitals. For cancer patients, the rate goes up to 90 percent, meaning that most terminally ill patients face death surrounded by life-sustaining medical devices. That is in stark contrast to the National Health Insurance Service’s survey that showed 60 percent of people polled answered they want to die at home.
After decades of debate and controversies, from February 4, patients will also be able to refuse treatment including the provision of oxygen, nutrients, water and pain-alleviating medication. Currently, they are allowed to refuse only cardiopulmonary resuscitation, chemotherapy, mechanical ventilation and blood dialysis.
“When one is on their death bed, having time to heal emotional wounds is more important than passing on one’s property,” Heo said during a recent interview with a local daily. “When I talk with my patients, I find most of them have emotional pains with their family ties. Ahead of death, having time to heal from such wounds is important.
“Patients on life extension treatment cannot have such time. Families cannot spend time with their loved ones in their last hours of life, since their visits are allowed at certain times only. For bereaved families, what is better for the patient? To let them go in warm communication and love, or to see them dead in the hospital morgue?”
Through his new book, Heo asks such questions as “to what extent is life-sustaining medical treatment necessary?” and “how far patients should be allowed to choose the time and place they will end their lives.”
Based on his patients’ stories, the book includes the accounts of Heo and other medical professionals claiming that the new law, which is sure to cause initial confusion in the medical profession, will require more mending jobs.
The writer, for instance, points out the issues facing nursing patients _ a major reason preventing terminally ill patients from going home. Heo says instead of a medical service system centered on hospitals in the capital region, the local medical system should be further developed so doctors making house calls can provide quality medical services to patients.
He also maintains it is time to close the gap between the new law and Korean culture when openly discussing a person’s death, especially in front of the person whose death is imminent, which continues to be taboo.