Taipei: A majority of people in Taiwan support physician-assisted dying in cases involving terminal illness, long-term physical pain, and severe cognitive impairment, according to a study by National Taiwan University’s College of Public Health.

According to Focus Taiwan, Chen Duan-rung, a professor at the college’s Institute of Health Behaviors and Community Sciences, highlighted at a news conference in Taipei that while many diseases remain incurable, medical advancements have prolonged life, often leaving patients in long-term pain or lacking dignity. She noted that more Western countries are recognizing an individual’s right to decide when and how to end their life through methods like euthanasia and physician-assisted dying, both currently illegal in Taiwan.

To gauge public support for physician-assisted dying, Chen and her team conducted an online survey of 3,992 Taiwanese adults in 2022, with the results published in BMJ Open in January. They found that 86.2 percent supported it for terminal illness with unrelievable pain, 79.6 percent for incurable illness causing prolonged pain, and 72.6 percent for severe cognitive impairment with incurable diseases. Overall, 67.6 percent supported the right to request physician-assisted dying in all scenarios.

The study revealed higher support among young adults, males, those without religious beliefs, and caregivers, who may empathize with patients’ suffering through their work. Conversely, healthcare professionals often opposed it due to ethical and legal concerns.

Chen also noted participants’ limited awareness of the Patient Right to Autonomy Act (PRAA), which allows refusal of life-prolonging treatments but not physician-assisted dying. Only 37.3 percent knew about the PRAA, and awareness tended to correlate with less support for physician-assisted dying. Those familiar with Advance Care Planning were more open to discussions about end-of-life decisions and accepting of physician-assisted dying.

Chen expressed hope that the study would lay a foundation for future public and ethical discussions, reflecting a growing openness in Taiwan to the concept of “dying with dignity.”