The death of famed Taiwanese author Chiung Yao (瓊瑤), who was found in her home on Wednesday having taken her own life at the age of 86, has reignited discussions about euthanasia. In response to these concerns, Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) highlighted the importance of palliative care in precluding the need for euthanasia.
Yao had made a post on Facebook saying one reason she chose to commit suicide was to avoid the slow and difficult process of aging she had seen others experience. She told her friends and family to take comfort in the fact that she lived a full life and explained that it was her wish to take control of her own death rather than leave it up to fate.
In an interview before a meeting at the Legislature on Thursday, Chiu pointed out that although cancer patients often consider ending their lives due to symptoms such as pain, if sufficient palliative care is provided to control these symptoms, they are able to have a normal quality of life. He reminded the public that the quality of Taiwan’s palliative care ranks first in Asia and third globally.
Chiu said that the ministry is willing to communicate with any experts or scholars proposing euthanasia with the hope that all parties first obtain an understanding of the role of palliative care in enabling the elderly and terminally ill to be free of pain as they approach the natural end of their lives.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, support can be found by dialing 1925 for the Health Ministry’s Suicide Prevention Hotline or by dialing 1995 for the Taiwan International Lifeline.