Application for Refusal of Life-Sustaining Treatment and Application Institution

The refusal of life-sustaining treatment application is a system designed to respect the patient’s right to self-determination and allow them to face death with dignity. Now, let’s explore how to apply for the refusal of life-sustaining treatment, the institutions where applications can be made, and the necessary documents.

Application for Refusal of Life-Sustaining Treatment

Refusal of life-sustaining treatment refers to the decision made by a patient in the end-of-life stage to refuse treatments that artificially extend life. This choice aims to preserve the patient’s dignity and allow for a natural death. In South Korea, the “End-of-Life Care Decisions Act” has been in effect since 2018, legally defining and regulating this decision.

Application Methods for Refusal of Life-Sustaining Treatment

The application for refusal of life-sustaining treatment is mainly done in two ways: by completing an advance directive for life-sustaining treatment and preparing a life-sustaining treatment plan.

Advance Directives for Life-Sustaining Treatment

Timing of Creation

It is recommended to create it while you are healthy.

Place of Creation

It can be done at a registration institution designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Method of Creation

The individual must visit the registration institution in person, receive counseling from a professional advisor, and then create the document. The individual signs it voluntarily after fully understanding and being explained about life-sustaining treatment.

Life-Sustaining Treatment Plan

Timing of Creation

It is created by patients who are in the terminal stage or in the process of dying.

Place of Creation

It is created in consultation with the patient’s attending physician.

Method of Creation

The document is created with the attending physician, reflecting the patient’s wishes. If the patient is unable to create it themselves, a family member can write it on their behalf.

The application for the refusal of life-sustaining treatment can be made at the following institutions.

Designated Institutions for Advance Directives for Life-Sustaining Treatment

Designated institutions by the Ministry of Health and Welfare support the process of drafting advance directives for life-sustaining treatment. These institutions are operated in various hospitals, public health centers, senior welfare centers, and some National Health Insurance Service branches nationwide. A detailed list can be found on the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s official website.

Medical Institutions

The life-sustaining treatment plan is drafted at the hospital where the patient’s primary doctor is affiliated. In particular, general hospitals or university hospitals assist patients who are terminally ill or in the process of dying, with their primary doctor helping to create the plan.