自主與善終

Patient Right to Autonomy Act

本文主要探討臨終病人的自主與善終權利。之所以選擇這個題目，是因為受到最近實施的病人自主權利法影響的結果。對我們而言，病人自主權利法案要解決的問題都是和我們有切身關係的問題，如果沒有妥善解決，是會影響我們自身的臨終權益。所以，基於安頓生死的要求，也為了維護我們自身的臨終權益，本文特別探討臨終病人的自主與善終權利。經過探討，我們發現病人自主權利法案雖然比安寧緩和醫療條例更進步，照顧的範圍與內容更廣，但是仍有一些不足之處。為了讓病人自主權利法案更加完善，本文建議在適用對象上不要只侷限在上述的五類臨終病人當中，而要擴及所有的臨終病人；在善終內容上，不要只侷限在生理層面上，而要擴及心理、靈性、社會層面。同時，在善終的提供上，不要只強調四道的作法，而要回歸臨終病人本身的善終需求。

This paper concerns the problem of autonomy and good death of terminal patients. It comes from the recent implementation of the bill of Patient Right to Autonomy Act. It is a matter of our ultimate rights at the end of our life. We find that it is an advance over the latest bill of palliative treatment in that it covers a wider range though still somewhat insufficient. I propose to expand the coverage to all terminal patients not limited to the five types listed. Good death should cover not only bodily but also psychological, spiritual and social aspects. To facilitate means for good death, it should not be limited to the four specific methods but the individual quest for good death of the terminal patients.