Law for terminally ill to refuse life-sustaining care planned for July 31 start

The Hong Kong government has planned for legislation allowing terminally ill patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment to start on July 31.In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, authorities said that the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance, passed in November 2024, would provide legal status to patients’ advance care planning while offering protection to healthcare and rescue personnel.The two instruments covered under advance care planning – advance medical directives and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders – have been in place at public hospitals based on common law since 2010.As the law takes effect, these two instruments will carry formal statutory status.An advance medical directive allows a mentally capable adult to specify which life-sustaining treatments they wish to refuse in the future, such as CPR, artificial ventilation, pacemakers and other measures.It is triggered only when the patient loses mental capacity and reaches a specific clinical state, such as a persistent vegetative state.