Reality of Death with Dignity and Related Efforts

Although the Supreme Court have ruled that doctors should remove the artificial respirator from a patient with vegetable status that suddenly fell into a coma during a lung biopsy in February 2008, on the basis of her presumed wishes, there are still considerable disparity between hope and reality in high quality of care at end-of-life. Korean physicians have to show leadership and partnership to take initiative and set an example for 'National Campaign for Death with Dignity' with the administrative sector, the National Assembly, and other social groups.