Thailand Commission Recommends Legalising Advance Directives

Thailand commission recommends legalising advance directives, Aug. 22, 2009.

The National Health Commission has agreed in principle a draft ministerial regulation on patients' right to die by rejecting medical treatment.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai, who chaired an NHC meeting yesterday, said the commission discussed the issue extensively before reaching an agreement that it should be forwarded to the cabinet with comments from the commission members.

The minister did not unveil details of the discussion but said it involved moral, ethical, legal and human rights aspects.

The draft regulation states that patients can write a letter of intent when conscious to make clear their decision not to receive any further health treatment given to extend their lives, or to end the torment from illness.

They could state clearly in their letters what kinds of medical treatment they wanted to refuse. Commission member Vichai Chokewiwat said the draft regulation was a new option for patients who wanted to die naturally.

It is a draft organic law of Article 12 in the National Health Act.

Dr Vichai, also chairman of the advisory committee on health-related rights and duties promotion, said the essence of the draft regulation comprised guidelines on the preparation of a letter of intent for a patient's right to die.

It outlined information that should be included in the letter, and the principles and methods that medical professionals should adopt when they are required to comply after receiving such a letter.

It also obliges the NHC to come up with guidelines for medical facilities that treat patients who have prepared and signed their letters, said Dr Vichai.

He said the draft law will not require all patients to prepare such letters.

This proposed letter of intent is simply another choice for those who want to die naturally and peacefully, who do not want to endure torment or to have their lives extended any further by medical equipment or technology, he said.

In the Bangkok Post