Between "Right to Life" and "Medical Autonomy": Progressive Course of Hospice Palliative Care, Patient Autonomy and Euthanasia in Taiwan / 中国医学伦理学

ABSTRACT

With the development of medical technology, terminal stage patients rely excessively on medical equipment to prolong their lives, but this aggravates the pain of dying patients. The current situation drives the Taiwanese people to think deeply about the following issues Does the quality of life before death outweigh the ineffective medical treatment at the end of life? Is the patient's autonomy higher than the right to life? This article started with several cases that triggered the discussion of euthanasia in Taiwan, such as the case of Mr. Fu Daren, a sports anchor in Taiwan, who wished to pass legislation on euthanasia. Meanwhile, this paper reviewed the revision process of the "hospice palliative care rules" in Taiwan, and introduced the spirit of "patient autonomy rules" to be implemented in 2019. From the perspective of the revision of the regulations, the current trend was further explored. The awareness of Taiwanese people on the right of self-determination in their final life was improved, and the pursuit of the quality of their final life was more than the extension of their lives.