Experience and Implications on Advance Medical Directives in Hong Kong

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.