A new Hong Kong law enabling adults to formally decline life-sustaining medical interventions has been welcomed as a significant social advancement. Despite this legislative progress, elderly residents living on government assistance, such as 78-year-old Fung Ho-chu, face significant financial obstacles in finalizing these advance medical directives. Although the policy allows individuals to express their end-of-life preferences, the associated costs of the process remain a barrier for those in low-income districts like Sham Shui Po. Advocates note that while cultural attitudes toward discussing death are shifting, the economic burden currently prevents vulnerable seniors from exercising their legal rights to control their own medical treatment plans.
Source : Hong Kong Free Press
Photo : Hong Kong Free Press
