원본보기 아이콘

원본보기 아이콘

In the fall of 2020, Ms. Jo (79) was diagnosed with breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones. The pain began to feel as if sharp knives were relentlessly stabbing every joint in her body. Although she had always been a positive and energetic person, she could not overcome the excruciating pain. As a side effect of chemotherapy, she lost all her hair, fingernails, and toenails. The skin on her hands and feet peeled off, and she suffered from unbearable itching. Eventually, the cancer spread to her stomach, lungs, and skin, and staying in the hospital was no longer a viable option. At some point, she began to believe that death was the only way to end her pain.

On the 4th, in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jo's daughter, Nam Yuha, said, "My mother always said she did not want to end her life in an intensive care unit or a nursing hospital. Perhaps because the pain was so severe, she even made concrete plans, which shocked me. We learned about Switzerland's assisted dying system for foreigners, and it became my mother's only hope to end her life with dignity. No one in our family could stop her decision," she said tearfully.

Last spring, after her eldest sister passed away in a nursing hospital, Jo's resolve became even stronger. She did not want a life dependent on an oxygen respirator while unconscious, as her sister had experienced. Advances in medical technology have extended life expectancy, but for most, the end of life still comes on a hospital bed. Some people want this, but others do not. Jo wanted to live to the end by her own will rather than finish her life in a hospital. So she decided to exercise her right to self-determination regarding death.

원본보기 아이콘

원본보기 아이콘

The process of receiving the "green light" (approval) for assisted dying at Dignitas in Switzerland was not easy. It took nearly two months, from numerous documents to a rigorous approval process. In particular, the expression "depressed" in the life report documenting her medical history became an issue. It had to be explained that "depressed" was a metaphorical expression and an error arising from cultural differences. The initial English medical records were too brief and had to be resubmitted. The journey to a dignified end of life was not easy, and with each step, the psychological pressure grew. Fortunately, Jo was able to complete all the procedures with her daughter's help.

Jo's final wish is that other critically ill patients can end their lives with dignity in Korea. Facing death in an unfamiliar place brings great emotional anxiety, and the 13-hour flight to Switzerland is another ordeal for patients. For those facing death, every remaining moment is precious. However, due to the absence of assisted dying, the precious time that should be spent with loved ones is wasted on paperwork and traveling to Switzerland. Jo repeatedly told her daughter, "I hope people like me never have to suffer like this."

원본보기 아이콘

The situation is similar for other patients traveling to Switzerland. In 2022, Mr. Park underwent surgery for colon cancer, but it has since metastasized, and he has now been diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. Peritoneal cancer is a rare cancer with no early symptoms, making early diagnosis difficult. In most cases, by the time cancer is found in the peritoneum, it is already too advanced to treat. Park's mother battled ovarian cancer for 10 years before passing away in 2017. Having experienced the end of a cancer battle firsthand, his journey to Switzerland is paradoxically like a final leaf of hope.

Park's pain is getting worse, and the medication provided by the hospital is becoming less effective. Now, he is haunted by the fear that he might die alone at home. So he began looking into ways to go to Switzerland while he could still manage the pain. Park said, "Assisted dying is a system that will inevitably be introduced someday. I don't understand why it is being delayed like this. The right to end one's life without pain should be respected as a basic human right."

"I hope other critically ill patients can peacefully end their lives with dignity in our country"

"Assisted dignified death is a system that will be introduced someday"

"The right to pass the final moments of life without pain as a human being must be respected"

Dignitas is a non-profit organization that assists in the assisted dying of patients with no chance of recovery. Through this institution, Korean nationals ended their lives in 2016 (1 person), 2018 (1 person), 2021 (1 person), 2022 (1 person), and 2023 (3 people). The number of Korean members has steadily increased: 32 in 2018, 58 in 2019, 72 in 2020, 104 in 2021, 117 in 2022, and 162 in 2023. In an email, Dignitas emphasized, "Our goal is the day when Dignitas is no longer needed," adding, "We hope that the laws of other countries will be revised so that people around the world do not have to come to Switzerland and can have the final choice in their lives."