Even Alain Delon Chose a 'Dignified Death'... But 'Well Dying' Still Has a Long Way to Go Domestically

Growing Interest in 'Dignified Death' Spurs Euthanasia Debate... Currently Only 'Life-Sustaining Treatment Withdrawal' Is Legal
8 out of 10 Citizens Support Legislation on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
'Assisted Dignified Death Act' Proposed, but Challenges Remain Such as Strengthening Social Security Systems

As domestic interest in a 'dignified death' increases, recent movements toward the legislation of the 'Assisted Dignified Death Act' have emerged. [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "We have the right to quietly leave this world without going through hospitals or life-sustaining devices."

The final choice of French actor Alain Delon left a significant impact. Known as the 'handsome man of the century,' he underwent brain stroke surgery in 2019 and continued battling illness before deciding to end his life through euthanasia (dignified death) in Switzerland this past March.

The globally renowned Alain Delon's decision ignited discussions on euthanasia in South Korea. Analysts suggest that the active euthanasia debates overseas, including those involving Alain Delon, have sparked domestic interest in the concept of a 'dignified death.' While 'Well-being' was a trend that swept through Korean society in the early 2000s, more people are now showing interest in 'Well-Dying.' These individuals argue that the quality of death is as important as the quality of life and that people should be granted the right to end their own lives.

Some view the increasing interest in 'dignified death' as a result of the accelerating aging population. According to Statistics Korea's '2021 Elderly Statistics,' South Korea is expected to enter a super-aged society by 2025, with one in five people (20.3%) aged 65 or older.

Currently, South Korea has a passive form of euthanasia through the life-sustaining treatment discontinuation system. Introduced in February 2018, it allows the cessation of life-sustaining treatment for patients with no chance of recovery, with family consent. As of April, over 210,000 people have chosen to discontinue life-sustaining treatment and passed away, and the number of advance directives for life-sustaining treatment has reached approximately 1.3 million as of last month. An advance directive for life-sustaining treatment is a document in which individuals aged 19 or older express their intention to discontinue life-sustaining treatment in case they are unable to make medical decisions in the future.

In contrast, active euthanasia is not permitted in South Korea. Active euthanasia involves prescribing drugs based on the patient's wishes, either where a doctor administers the drugs to cause death ('euthanasia') or where a patient receives a prescription from a doctor and ends their own life ('assisted euthanasia').

Public consensus on the necessity of euthanasia is also growing. According to a team led by Professor Yoon Young-ho of Seoul National University Hospital's Department of Family Medicine on the 24th of last month, 8 out of 10 respondents (76.8%) supported the legalization of 'euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.' This figure has nearly doubled compared to five years ago (41.4%). Reasons for support included △meaninglessness of remaining life (30.8%) △right to a good death (26.0%) △pain relief (20.6%). The survey was conducted from March to April last year among 1,000 South Korean citizens aged 19 and older.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of last month, the number of registered advance directives reached 1,308,938.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Based on this, legislative moves toward legalizing euthanasia are emerging in the National Assembly. On the 15th, Ahn Kyu-baek, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced the 'Assisted Dignified Death Act,' which allows terminally ill patients experiencing severe pain to end their lives with the help of a physician if they so desire. The bill defines the assisted dignified death candidates as those who meet all three conditions: △being terminally ill △experiencing unbearable pain △wishing for assisted dignified death according to their own will.

However, concerns have been raised that patients should not be driven to euthanasia due to financial burdens such as treatment costs. In Professor Yoon's team survey, 14.8% of respondents supported euthanasia legislation citing 'family pain and burden' as a reason. Additionally, hospice beds available for patients in the dying process are insufficient. As of last month, there were about 1,400 hospice beds nationwide, which is grossly inadequate considering that 80,000 people died from cancer last year. Therefore, experts advise that strengthening social security systems should precede the legalization of assisted euthanasia.

Meanwhile, countries recognizing euthanasia have gradually increased, starting with the Netherlands (2002) and Belgium (2003). In Canada, following the enactment of the Dignified Death Act in Quebec in 2014, active euthanasia was permitted nationwide in 2016. Portugal and Spain have also established euthanasia laws. However, countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany only allow the discontinuation of life-sustaining treatment and prohibit active euthanasia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.