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April 19, 2011

Living Wills Offer Patients a Choice and Are Now Enshrined in Thai Law

Bangkok Post, Corporate Counsellor Column

Imagine yourself standing silently with your relatives in a hospital’s ICU, staring at the still figure of a loved one lying helplessly in bed. At that moment, your greatest wish is for that loved one to be able to speak even for the last time to let you, his doctor, and everyone there know whether he would like to have his life support system and medical treatment continued, withheld, or withdrawn. Now, such an indication, or a “living will,” is recognized and can be made for the first time under Thai law. This article examines the relevant provision of the National Health Act.

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