Proposed Hong Kong bill allowing patients to reject end-of-life treatment will have 18-month grace period once passed
- Proposed bill also aims to provide legal protection to medical professionals and rescuers when respecting patients’ directives
- Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee says time needed for healthcare institutions and groups to renew their guidelines, records and systems, and provide training
A proposed bill that would give legal status to the document allowing patients to reject certain end-of-life care treatments in Hong Kong will require an 18-month delay of the adoption of the new rules to give the public enough time to prepare for the change, health authorities have said.
The proposed Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Bill aims to give legal status to advance directives in use by patients to prevent any potential misunderstanding that could arise between patients and healthcare professionals.
Speaking in a bills committee meeting in the Legislative Council on Friday, Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun said the government planned to reserve enough time for the healthcare sector to adapt to the changes.
“Following the passage of the bill, we recommended allocating enough time for healthcare institutions, relevant departments and groups to renew their guidelines, records and systems, and provide timely training to their staff,” Lee told lawmakers.
She said time would also be needed to conduct public education and promote the new legislation.
Authorities aimed to have the second and third reading of the bill take place in the second quarter of this year.