Advance Care Planning in Taiwan

Taiwan has been promoting the concept of palliative care since 1983. In the 2021 global quality of death index, Taiwan ranked third. Regarding the development of patient autonomy, there are two phases. The first phase was the passage of the Hospice Palliative Care Act in 2000, which respects the personal choices of terminally ill patients, including the decision to refuse cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The second phase was the passage of the Patient Right to Autonomy Act in 2015, which expanded the scope of application beyond terminally ill patients to include four other severe and irreversible conditions, while providing clearer explanations on life-sustaining treatment and artificial nutrition. Taiwan's legislation regarding the respect for patient autonomy has become increasingly comprehensive. However, there is still room for improvement in its practical implementation.