Advance medical directives allow patients to plan in advance their medical decisions in the event of incurable diseases or at the end of their lives when they have the capacity to make such decisions.This institutional design not only breaks through the traditional medical decision-making model and enables patients to make autonomous decisions across time and space,but also demonstrates the law's respect for and protection of patients' right to make autonomous decisions and their dignity of life.The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region submitted the bill related to advance medical directives to the Legislative Council for review at the end of 2023.On November 20,2024,the Advance Decision on Life-Sustaining Treatment Bill was passed,a move that is of great significance to regulating the legal issues in medical decision-making.This paper will delve into the basic principles,main contents,and related considerations of advance medical directives in Hong Kong,aiming to provide insights and references for the future improvement of relevant laws in the Chinese mainland.
Hong Kong ; Advance Directives/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Humans ; Decision Making

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) came into effect in March 2010 but the impact of this groundbreaking legislation on the doctor-patient relationship has not yet been studied in Singapore. It is evident that communication between healthcare professionals, patients and their loved ones has never been so critical. Translating this into practice, healthcare professionals must identify the decision-maker to obtain consent from the correct person. Consent for healthcare and treatment must be obtained from the patient with capacity or the patient's legally appointed proxy decision-maker under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) where the patient lacks capacity. However, the doctor is the decision-maker for patients lacking capacity in matters of life-sustaining treatment or treatment to prevent a serious deterioration of the patient's health. All decisions made on behalf of persons lacking capacity must be made in their best interests. Capacity assessments must be properly conducted and if a patient has the capacity to make the decision then healthcare professionals must take practicable steps to help them make a decision.
Advance Directives ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Decision Making ; Delivery of Health Care ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Mental Competency ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Physicians ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Singapore ; Third-Party Consent ; legislation & jurisprudence