Beginning next year,... life-prolonging treatment for terminally ill patients in South Korea will become more practical,... with a narrower scope of family consent.
The measure is expected to grant the right to die with dignity to more patients who are terminally ill.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.

The South Korean government will ease regulations on ending life-sustaining treatment for those who are terminally ill starting early next year.
Under the current law,... life-sustaining treatment for unconscious patients can only be halted with the consent of all of their lineal family members,... including their spouse, parents, children and grandchildren.

"The scope of life-sustaining treatment should be expanded from the current four treatments - CPR, use of respirators or anticancer drugs and hemodialysis."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sunday,... the National Assembly passed an amendment that allows patients to end medical treatment after getting consent from their spouse, parents or children,... which will take effect from March 28th, next year.
Going forward, the ministry also aims to expand the scope of unnecessary medical treatment,... to include blood transfusions and the use of vasopressors.
Since the current law took effect in February this year,... over 20-thousand patients chose to halt life-prolonging treatment as of early October.
The easing of regulations is expected to give patients the right to die with dignity,... and reduce the use of unnecessary medical treatment.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.