Submitted by Dr LAU Chun Wing Arthur, ICU, PYNEH, Hong Kong, on 24 May 2009
Figure. The book written by Mr Tang (Bun Chai). The cover is Bun Chai’s view of the ceiling of the hospital ward that he often had to look at while lying down.
Mr Tang Shiu Bun (斌仔), a well-known patient in Hong Kong, became tetraplegic and ventilator-dependent after sustaining a traumatic cervical spine fracture at the C1/C2 level in 1991 at the age of 22 years, and was bedbound and mechanically ventilated since then. In his book "I want euthansia" by Bun Chai (Mr Tang Shiu Bun), publication date 1st May 2007 [我要安樂死, 作者：斌仔（鄧紹斌）, 出版社：三聯(香港), 出版日期：2007年05月01日], and in the discussion on euthansia so far in Hong Kong in the legislature, which of the following is not correct?
A. In Bun Chai’s letter to Mr Tung Chee Wah, he argued, "Life lies not in its length, but its meaningfulness, and I consider that one’s biggest respect to life is not to sustain life irrespective of reason, but to respect the personal choice of an individual."
B. He maintained his belief and fight for the right to the choice of euthanasia, and argued against the contrary tenets of contemporary ethics and religion on this issue.
C. During the Hong Kong Legislative Council Meeting held on 2 May 2001, the issue of treatment of terminal patients, including euthansia, was raised. A poem (Thomas Moore (1779 – 1852): Irish Melodies) about unfading love and reassurance of the poet’s loved one not to worry about growing old was recited by The Honourable Martin LEE Chu-Ming, S.C., J.P.
D. In the Legislative Council meetings on euthanasia, the term "passive euthanasia" was equated to "forgoing futile treatment".
Answer: D
Editor’s notes
From the reply of the Secretary for Health and Welfare and subsequent discussion, it was found that terms surrounding the issue of euthansia created some confusion. The following definitions were thus elucidated or reiterated:
- "Forgoing futile treatment" is a medical decision to abandon or stop using a certain kind of treatment having taken into consideration that the relevant treatment cannot achieve the intended medical effect or purpose. This is lawful.
- "Patient’s refusal of treatment" refers to the situation in which a patient, in his sound mind, after learning the facts about his conditions and the proposed treatment, refuses to accept any treatment for his or her own reasons, regardless of whether the treatment is effective or futile. This is lawful.
- "Euthanasia" is the direct intentional killing of a person as part of the medical care being offered, a definition agreed by the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK). According to the provisions under the Offences against the Person Ordinance (Cap. 212), the practice of euthanasia is forbidden in Hong Kong.
- "Passive euthanasia" is a term that creates confusion, and was suggested not to be used in Hong Kong.
The above interpretations of the terms apply to Hong Kong only. Definitions vary in different countries.
The poem recited was from Thomas Moore (1779 – 1852), Irish Melodies:
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away!
Thou wouldst still be ador’d as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And, around the dear ruin, each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
It is not while youth and beauty are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the faith and fervour of a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear.
No, the heart that has truly lov’d never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sunflower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turn’d when he rose.
References
我要安樂死, 作者：斌仔（鄧紹斌）, 出版社：三聯(香港), 出版日期：2007年05月01日
Legislative Council Official Records of Proceedings (Hansard) on 26 Jan 2000, p 27 * 35, openly available at the LEGCO website here
Legislative Council Official Records of Proceedings (Hansard) on 2 May 2001, p 144 – 178, openly available at the LEGCO website here