A consensus reached by a government-appointed committee on end of life or “terminal” treatment is acceptable to the Church, the head of a Korean Catholic hospital says.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs announced on July 14 that a specially appointed social consultation group had reached a consensus on the conditions in which the treatment of terminal patients may be ended.

However, Father Remigio Lee Dong-ik, the CEO of the Catholic Medical Center, said the agreement by a government social consultation group is not legally binding.

The consultation group agreed that “terminal treatment,” which includes artificial respiration and the resuscitation of heart and lungs may be stopped at the request of the patient.

Honorary Professor Thomas Aquinas Chin Kyo-hun of Seoul National University represented the Catholic Church in the consultation group, which included representatives from 18 different religious, medical, legal and civic organizations.

The group agreed that for treatment to be ended, terminal patients themselves must apply personally in writing.

In order to reach a final decision in each case, each hospital will have its own ethics committee. The government will also establish a national ethics committee.

Father Lee said that the hospital ethics committee will play the pivotal role since it will have the best information on the state of patients.

However, the consultation group failed to reach an agreement on whether the terminal treatment procedure needs to be enshrined in legislation.

According to the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Declaration On Euthanasia in 1980 “When inevitable death is imminent” it is permissible “to take the decision to refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not interrupted.”

In this line, Father Lee said that ending “meaningless” artificial respiration is acceptable in guaranteeing a patient’s right to self-decision.

Related reports
Supreme Court rules life support can be removed from comatose woman
Hospice helps terminally ill live with dignity
Christians to campaign against mercy killing

KO10442.1610