The Taiwan Hospice Organization called the act a major step forward as 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 of Health and Welfare 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 unless there is ill intent and there are major medical mistakes.
The act was the brainchild of Yang Yu-hsin, a KMT lawmaker who introduced a draft bill in May of this year. Yang was confined to a wheelchair since she was 19 after being diagnosed with a muscle disorder called miyoshi myopathy. The rare disease caused by gene mutation also crippled her two other siblings. Yang said the act is about the dignity and autonomy of human beings.
Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Tien Chiu-chin said the act is by no means euthanasia. Tien said saying no to ineffective medical treatment is a basic human right as “prolonged death” violates the sanctity of human life.
Still, the medical community is ambivalent about the legislation though advocates of medical reforms and palliative care are embracing the act. Some doctors are concerned about the ensuing medical lawsuits once the act takes effect; others said guidelines are needed to implement the law.