After a three-month trial period of the so-called 'well-dying' law, or halting life-sustaining treatments for patients who want to end their lives naturally and on their own terms,... the government has started to implement the law on a permanent basis.
Park Hee-jun reports.
Beginning February 4th, the so-called ‘well-dying law' goes into effect, under which terminally ill patients can choose to die with dignity by refusing artificial life-prolonging treatments.
Once a patient is determined to have no chance of recovery by at least two physicians, he or she can choose to end their life by refusing four major life-sustaining treatments, namely CPR, anti-cancer drugs, hemodialysis, or respirators.
However, they cannot refuse treatment for pain-relief or supply of nutrition, oxygen, and water.
The law takes full effect after a three-month trial-run,... during which over 9-thousand applicants signed in advance to forgo artificial life-extending treatments when they become incurably ill.
107 terminally-ill patients also signed up, with 54 of them actually refusing treatment altogether.
"Korean society has long demanded for a law that prevents the meaningless extension of life. The public, especially patients, are welcoming the implementation of the 'well-dying' law,... not only to avoid becoming a burden to family, but also to die a peaceful death."
"Many people decided to sign up after witnessing how others went through painful deaths at the intensive care unit. They are very welcoming of the law, as it spares them from going through such agony and allows them to die with dignity."
But the system is far from perfect, with some areas requiring government intervention.
"Hospitals need to establish ethics commissions in order to issue the documents, but small hospitals lack the resources to do so. They require human resources and cost support from the government to entrust the job to larger hospitals or to form a joint commission among several hospitals."
Experts also say that doctors need to be properly trained on how to deliver the truth to patients who have no chances of recovery.
Only when patients are fully aware of their condition can they decide for themselves whether to extend medical treatment.
The well-dying law focuses on an individual's right to choose how to end his or her life when the time comes, in a manner that minimizes unnecessary pain on themselves and their loved ones.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
