MOHW stresses palliative care amid public debate over assisted dying

Taipei, June 22 (CNA) Taiwan will not consider legalizing euthanasia but instead try to improve long-term care and palliative services, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said Monday amid renewed public debate over assisted dying.

The MOHW staked out its position in response to a YouTube video released Sunday by former Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).

In the video, Ko, a surgeon-turned politician, told the story of a man in his 40s, who, along with his older sister, had a genetic neurological disease, and he decided to travel to Switzerland in May to undergo assisted dying.

In the video, Ko said the case highlights not only the debate over euthanasia but also whether Taiwan's long-term care system is sufficient for patients with severe illnesses.

Liu Yueh-ping (劉越萍), head of the MOHW's Department of Medical Affairs, told reporters that euthanasia and palliative care are fundamentally different in nature.

"Euthanasia aims to end a patient's life to relieve suffering, while palliative care seeks to relieve suffering without ending life," Liu said.

Liu said she was not aware of the specific details of the illness described in the Ko video, making it difficult to comment on the case.

She said, however, that any future review would focus on better integrating palliative care, patient autonomy and long-term care services, including daily living support, symptom control, pain relief and caregiver assistance, rather than legalizing euthanasia.

Concerning the challenges faced by families with rare diseases, she stressed the importance of Taiwan's Patient Right to Autonomy Act, saying many end-of-life regrets stem from patients not clearly expressing their medical wishes while still mentally capable.

Advance medical directives under the Act allow individuals to express their wishes early, enabling end-of-life care through palliative procedures and helping achieve what she described as a dignified end-of-life process while avoiding a "life-or-death dilemma," she said.

Liu said the case regarding the man who sought assisted dying will be referred to the MOHW's Health Promotion Administration and the Department of Long-Term Care for support services, with a cross-agency review to be conducted as part of future policy improvements.