Death is inevitable for all people
When reaching the end of life
Is it better to use all modern medical methods to extend life
or sign a living directive in advance Choose whether to continue treatment
There is a new practice in Shenzhen
The 10th Standing Committee of the 7th Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress The meeting recently voted to adopt the revised version of the " Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Medical Regulations ". Among them, Article 78 makes a bold breakthrough in the "right to make end-of-life decisions", stipulating that if a patient makes an advance directive "not to perform unnecessary resuscitation", the hospital must respect his wishes and allow the patient to spend his last days peacefully. Shenzhen has also become the first region in the country to implement living will legislation. Related news has been trending on Weibo.
What is a living will?
A living will is an instruction document signed by people in advance, that is, when they are conscious, stating what kind of medical care they will or will not want in the terminal stage of an incurable injury or death.
The practice of traditional medicine is that when a patient reaches the end of his life, such as terminal cancer or multiple organ failure in the elderly, although he knows that no medical measures can reverse the condition, the medical spirit of saving lives and healing the wounded will still make most doctors send the patient to the hospital. ICU, perform tracheal intubation and other life support systems to maintain life.
In the ICU, some patients will receive painful medical treatment, lying on a cold hospital bed, with various tubes inserted all over the body, with swelling all over the body, skin ulceration, and it is difficult to get the company of their relatives. The final outcome may be If it is not cured, many families will even be burdened with high debts.
Before sending a patient to the ICU, doctors usually ask the patient's family members for their opinions on whether to admit the patient to the ICU. Most of the family members know that they cannot be saved, but they say "come in" out of family affection and fear of being accused of being an "unfilial son". .
Netizens have praised Shenzhen's new regulations
Article 78 of the revised draft of the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Medical Regulations" stipulates:
If a patient or his close relative provides a living will that meets the following conditions, the medical institution shall not cure the patient. When implementing medical measures in the terminal stage of injury or death, the patient's wishes and wishes shall be respected: (1) Whether traumatic rescue measures such as intubation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation are taken or not, whether or not a life support system is used, or whether A clear statement of intention not to carry out continued treatment of the original disease.
Shenzhen’s medical regulations legislation, for the first time, gives patients the “right to make end-of-life decisions” through a living will to protect their right to give up rescue and maintain their dignity at the end of their injuries. This is undoubtedly a bold breakthrough and a positive progress. significance.
Some netizens believe that it is very necessary to make a living will and arrange the last mile of your life in advance to prepare for emergencies when you are healthy or conscious. Many netizens praised Shenzhen’s move.
However, some netizens believe that it is necessary to clarify what "meaningless rescue" is.
How to make a living will?
Li Ying, a geriatrician at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital , said that adults with civil capacity can sign a living will. It is best to do so with family, friends, doctors and even lawyers in a clear and relaxed environment. Wait for relevant people to discuss it together, fully understand it, and then make a decision. Two witnesses are required when signing. However, in the absence of local legislation and dedicated agency management, the completed documents can only be kept by yourself or by your family members.
Will living will cause patients to give up treatment prematurely?
Li Ying said that a living will brings "death with dignity", which is different from euthanasia. It refers to giving up rescue and not using the life support system at the end of an incurable injury, so that death is neither advanced nor delayed. Finally, it comes naturally. In this process, one's wishes should be respected to the greatest extent, and one should bid farewell to life with dignity as much as possible. "Death with dignity" does not regard saving lives as the first priority, but takes dying without pain, fear and regret as the goal, turning "regret between life and death" into "peace between life and death".
Experts also said that there is still a long way to go for the improvement and popularization of living wills in our country.
Because living wills involve many legal and medical professional concepts, which are difficult for patients to understand, professional guidance and services must be provided to patients before signing a living will. Including whether traumatic rescue is worth implementing, how to evaluate the damage and benefits, etc., the operating specifications must also be improved to make them followable.
In addition, when living wills are enacted into law, they must also be protected from malicious use. For example, end-of-life rescue medical expenses are very high, and health commercial insurance must be careful not to exaggerate the role of living wills.
Although living wills have been enacted into law for the first time and the rules may not be mature yet, Shenzhen’s institutional exploration in this area will increasingly accumulate experience and create a scientific model for the popularization of living wills in my country.
If life is a ship
Everyone is the helmsman of this ship
Let life end perfectly
It should not be a luxury hope (Shanghai News Broadcasting)
