The legislature has passed the Patient Self-Determination Act. The act allows patients to have a say in their end-of-life care.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare says the act, which passed on Friday, is the first of its kind in Asia. The act will take effect three years later after it is formally published.
The act applies to the terminally-ill, patients in a coma or vegetative state, and patients with advanced dementia or incurable diseases.
Under the act, these patients have the right to accept or deny medical treatment, provided that they have signed a legal document called an advance healthcare directive.
To have a valid directive, patients will require advance healthcare consulting offered by medical institutions. A note will then be recorded on the patients' National Health Insurance card after the directive is notarized or witnessed by two other people.
The ministry says that since the act aims to offer patients the opportunity to accept or deny medical care, medical institutions and doctors involved will not face criminal or administrative liability for their actions.