Living Wills
“Living Wills”
The stairway to heaven under the Thai National Health Act
Article. 12, Part 1 dated 20th March 2007
“And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The truth will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll ”
The nirvana or Kingdom of Heaven is in our peaceful minds. Our misery comes from the possession to believe that everything belongs to us. Our body and mind should be separated if this possession causes the misery for all of us. Only our pure minds not the substance of our body belong to us.
Pattaya might be a great place to live happily ever and after, but not necessarily a nice place to die. There is no chance of euthanasia, or sympathy killing to end one’s suffering, when the situation is terminal and quality of life is long gone. In fact, doctors here in this Buddhist kingdom, can face legal action if they up the meds to ease one into the afterlife. Therefore, the usual situation is to provide artificial life support endlessly to a patient when all hope of recovery and dignity are gone; more so when there is plenty of insurance coverage. This is simply not fair to the dying or the loved ones left behind.
To get around this distressing situation, many medical doctors may recommend you living wills, which you should fill out before slipping into the abyss. Most people have wills to benefit family to enjoy the wealth after their deaths, but the living will is for you. This document proclaims that you choose not to be resuscitated or put on life support when your condition is terminal. In other words, to insure a more natural death, instead of suffering extensively and unnecessarily like many miserable patients, you want to fill in these documents in both Thai and English and keep them with your medical records, insurance policies, and/or relatives. It is never too soon to do this as anyone could succumb to the sudden onslaught of a disease or have an accident at any time.
We show you the draft of the “Living Wills” which can be a stairway to heaven for all of us.
Draft Living Will
Full Name:
Address :
Passport Number :
Being of sound mind and understanding all the implications, I ask that this document be brought to the attention of any medical facility in whose care I happen to be, and to any person who may become responsible for my affairs.
This is my ‘Living Will’ stating my wishes in that my life should not be artificially prolonged, if this sacrifices my Quality of Life.
If, for any reason, I am diagnosed as being in a terminal condition, I wish that my treatment be designed to keep me comfortable and to relieve pain, and allow me to die as naturally as possible, with as much dignity as can be maintained under the circumstances.
As well as the situation in which I have been diagnosed as being in a terminal condition, these instructions will apply to situations of permanently unconscious states and irreversible brain damage.
In the case of a life-threatening condition, in which I am unconscious or otherwise unable to express my wishes, I hereby advise that I do not want to be kept alive on a life support system, nor do I authorize, or give my consent to procedures being carried out which would compromise any Quality of Life that I might expect in the future.
I ask that you are sensitive to and respectful of my wishes; and use the most appropriate measures that are consistent with my choices and encompass alleviation of pain and other physical symptoms; without attempting to prolong life.
Being of sound mind at the time of making this declaration, I ask that you will follow my wishes. It is my conviction that Quality of Life must be the main consideration for all decisions, not length of life.
In witness hereof, I have signed this document, which has also been signed by witnesses, who have read and understand my wishes.
