生命權與病人自主權之衡平──以「安寧緩和醫療條例」為例

The Balancing between Right to Life and Patients' Right to Autonomy–An Example of “Hospice Palliative Care Act＂

台灣「安寧緩和醫療條例」之訂定乃立法者在權衡生命權與病人自主權後，所畫分的那條界線。本文目的在探討「安寧緩和醫療條例」所面臨之困境與挑戰。台灣「安寧緩和醫療條例」之訂定乃折衝於病人生命權、病人自主權、家屬身分權、從事業務醫師之醫學倫理、醫療機構營運之現實成本考量與國家保護生命義務間，各自立場經過爭取、協商與妥協後，立法者基於當時民意賦權所訂定之成果。可以預見，隨著醫療科技逐漸進步，倫理爭議與權利保障議題仍會持續延續，而此正好彰顯台灣日益成熟之民主思維。 After balancing between patients' right to life and right to autonomy, the “Hospice Palliative Care Act＂ was enacted to draw the line. The aim of this article is to discuss difficulties and challenges faced by the “Hospice Palliative Care Act＂. Standpoints of patients' right to life, patients' right to autonomy, and family's right based on relationship, physician's considerations of medical ethics, medical institutions' realistic operation cost, and nation's obligation of protecting lives are all considered. After struggling, bargaining, and compromising, legislators empowered by the people came up with the “Hospice Palliative Care Act＂. It could be foreseen that topics of ethical controversies and right protection will go on along with progressing related to medical technology. And this is the time to highlight Taiwan's matured democratic spirit.