LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Patient's right to die sparks heated debate in House
National Health Bill sparks concern over defining 'terminal stage' of life, other provisions during second reading
The controversial clause in the National Health Bill about a patient's right to die sparked heated debate yesterday during the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) session. The NLA was debating the bill for its second reading.
According to Section 10 of the bill, a person shall have the right to make a written statement declaring his or her intention not to receive medical treatment that serves only to delay his or her death in the terminal stage of his or her life, or not to receive medical treatment for the purpose of ending the suffering from his or her illness.
The statement shall be prepared in line with procedures and criteria prescribed by ministerial regulations.
NLA member General Chamlong Srimuang supported the patient's right to die, citing the case of the late monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu as an example.
The famous monk, who passed away in 1993, made an express intention to pass away and not use a respirator to cling on to life in the last stages of his existence.
"However, his followers asked that the respirator be used. This was against his wish," Chamlong said.
Vetting panel secretary Ampon Jindawattana said this legal clause, if enforced, would protect people's right to choose whether they wanted to live or not.
However, NLA member Pathumporn Watcharasathien expressed concern about the "terminal stage" in the provision.
"Who will define the terminal stage?" she questioned.
She said some patients could live on much longer than what doctors previously estimated.
Pathumporn suggested that at least three specialists should be required to decide whether patients were in the terminal stage of their lives.
NLA member Somkiat Onwimon also claimed the clause was against doctor's ethics.
"How can a person be authorised to say that this or that person should die? It's an abuse of human rights," he said.
After heated argument, the controversial clause managed to get a green light from the NLA. However, the second reading of the National Health Bill also hit snags on several other issues.
"This bill contains many flaws," NLA member Borwornsak Uwanno said.
Finally, Ampon asked that the bill be withdrawn. He said his panel would review the bill to relieve concerns on all sides.
NLA member Wallop Tangkhananurak said the second reading would be continued on January 4 and expected the third reading to be held the same day.
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