Hong Kong residents will soon be able to upload advance directives specifying their preferences for life-sustaining medical treatments to the city’s electronic health record system, as a new legal framework takes effect next Friday.
This development represents a major advancement in formalizing end-of-life care arrangements, coming more than 20 months after the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance was enacted by lawmakers.
“This legislation marks a significant milestone for Hong Kong’s approach to end-of-life care,” said Dr. Doris Tse Man-wah, chairwoman of the Hospital Authority’s clinical ethics committee, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
While advance medical directives and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders have been utilized in public hospitals under common law since 2010, Dr. Tse noted that the new ordinance provides enhanced legal clarity and protection for both patients and healthcare providers.
“The legislation eliminates potential ambiguities and safeguards individuals who create these directives, as well as the medical professionals who must honor them,” Tse explained.
Starting July 31, patients who have completed advance medical directives will be able to have digital copies of their documents uploaded to the eHealth platform. All uploads must be completed by registered physicians.
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