How does Hong Kong’s new end-of-life law affect patients and medical staff?

The SCMP explores family rights under the law and what happens to healthcare professionals who fail to comply with end-of-life directives A new law allowing patients in Hong Kong to reject life-sustaining treatments when they are terminally ill will take effect on Friday. The South China Morning Post looks into how the law will affect patients and healthcare professionals. The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance will come into effect on July 31, following its passage by the Legislative Council in November 2024. The law gives patients the power to reject certain life-sustaining treatments when they are terminally ill and mentally incapable of making decisions. It also provides legal protection to healthcare professionals and rescuers who honour these medical directives. Both documents are key instruments in end-of-life care, and have been in place in public hospitals since 2010 under common law.

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