By You Soo-sun
Doctors will soon be able to end life sustaining treatment for patients with incurable conditions under a pending bill that allowed a trial run to begin Monday.
The government is taking steps to prepare the “death with dignity” bill, with the trial which runs until Jan. 15. The bill will take effect next February.
The purpose of the bill is to allow patients to end their lives with “dignity” by legalizing the release of patients with incurable conditions from care, under certain circumstances.
Prior to the law, doctors were obliged to continue providing life-sustaining treatment regardless of the patient’s wishes. This, however, drew criticism for prolonging pain for patients and their families, as well as causing financial burdens.
Controversy surrounding the issue dates back to 1997 when a physician was charged with murder for releasing a patient who died after being discharged. The family had asked for his release due to financial reasons.
The debate did not materialize again until 2008, however, when a patient’s family sued Yonsei Severance Hospital to stop treating a patient who was in a coma. This led to a landmark decision by the Supreme Court a year later which ruled in favor of the family, saying a patient had the right to end their life with dignity.
Under three scenarios, doctors may consider ending treatment: the patient’s state of health, the wishes of family members and a vote of the hospital’s ethics committee.
Patients who are mentally stable may request to end treatment. For those unable to make the request themselves, at least two members of their family must agree to cease treatment.
In both cases, at least two doctors must confirm that the patient’s condition is incurable before terminating life-sustaining treatment.
If these circumstances are met, doctors can halt treatment such as chemotherapy, mechanical ventilation, blood dialysis and CPR. They are not, however, allowed to stop supplying patients with nutrients, water, oxygen and pain-alleviating medication.
Patients may receive consultation and file orders and directives at a select group of institutions designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
During the trial run patients over the age of 19 will be able to file requests which will become effective in February when the law takes effect; but they can also rescind or change their orders should they choose to do so. Family members can file a request beginning in February.