The timing of the decision to suspend life-sustaining treatment should be expanded...Holding a policy meeting to spread well-dying culture

May 23, 2025

The timing of the decision to suspend life-sustaining treatment should be expanded...Holding a policy meeting to spread well-dying culture
Image=Pixabay



Policy discussions for the development of a funeral culture based on the right to self-determination took place in line with the spread of the culture of 'well-dying' and the change in perception of preparing for death.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that first vice minister Lee Ki-il held a policy meeting to spread the well-dying culture at the conference room of the Korea Health and Information Service in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 23rd and listened to opinions.

This meeting was organized to discuss the 'Life-sustaining Care Decision System' that does not implement or discontinues life-sustaining medical treatment that extends only the period of death without treatment effects and policies for 'Funeral Culture Development' based on the right to self-determination. In particular, in order to establish a well-dying culture to prepare for an aging society, we listened to and discussed the policy suggestions of experts on the development of 'Lifelong Medical Decision System' and 'New Funeral Culture'.




At the meeting, experts suggested that the decision to suspend life-sustaining treatment should be extended to the end of life and that medical staff and institutions should strengthen patient counseling capabilities.

First of all, the current law artificially separates the end-of-life and end-of-life processes so that the suspension of life-sustaining treatment can only be implemented during the end-of-life process, but it is argued that the suspension of life-sustaining treatment at the end-stage should be allowed.

In addition, they agreed that the central government should urgently institutionalize the 'pre-funeral intention' operated by local governments or private sectors because the basis for supporting its effectiveness is unclear. The letter of intent for a preliminary funeral is a document that writes down the method of the desired funeral and the organizer in advance during one's lifetime.




In addition, there was an opinion that funeral procedures should also revitalize 'Life Farewell Ceremony' where people meet their acquaintances just before death or a mourning ceremony to introduce the stories and memories of the deceased.

First Vice Minister Lee Ki-il said, "'We will spread awareness of the life-sustaining medical decision system and strive to develop a new funeral culture so that respect for the right to self-determination and the best interests for patients can be realized for the dignified end of life.'"






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.