Understanding Israel’s Dying Patient Act
What it’s about
The Dying Patient Act, implemented in Israel in 2005, is progressive legislation regarding the medical care of terminally ill patients. This law provides Israelis with tools such as advance medical directives and medical power of attorney to express their end-of-life wishes and maintain their dignity and autonomy during the final stages of life.
Why it matters
In Israel, only 4% of people have set in place advance medical directives, contrasting with about one-third of Americans. Raising awareness about the Dying Patient Act and ensuring end-of-life preferences are respected can significantly reduce emotional burdens on families, offer peace of mind, and affirm individuals’ rights over their care and dignity.
Empowering Through Legal Tools
Advance Directives
This law details how advance directives allow individuals to communicate their choices concerning life-sustaining treatments when designated as terminally ill by a physician. By legally recording these preferences, patients can guide medical interventions, ensuring that, while euthanasia is illegal, their choices are recognized, aligning both with personal wishes and respect for life.
Medical Power of Attorney
The medical power of attorney allows individuals to appoint someone they trust to make healthcare decisions if they become unable. It’s a critical component of this legislation, dispelling misconceptions about medical representation and emphasizing ongoing individual autonomy.
Respecting Cultural and Religious Values
Cultural hesitations, mostly stemming from traditional Jewish beliefs on life preservation, have resulted in underutilization. However, contemporary halachic views endorse alleviating suffering in non-recoverable cases, seamlessly integrating religious principles with modern legal tools to minimize pain.
Taking Action to Ensure Dignity
How to Proceed
The process to complete these directives requires filling out an official form endorsed by witnesses. Informing family members and periodically updating these directives assures that they remain relevant and recognized by the Health Ministry. It’s a proactive way to solidify personal convictions and eliminate uncertainties.
Ensuring a Respectful Final Chapter
The Dying Patient Act stands as a revolutionary framework allowing individuals certainty and clarity at the most critical junctions of life. It encourages careful considerations through organized and respectful means that reflect personal values and supportive familial roles.
Attorney Efrat Klipper-Dugma, the legal advisor for LILACH, actively promotes the law to enhance individual awareness and aid families in this essential process.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.