When asked what they would do when their parents or partners’ life was barely sustained by a machine, 70 percent of the respondents over 50 said they would stop the machine. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jun. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Almost 8 out of 10 Koreans support the legalization of the right to turn off life support systems under familial consent, when additional care is considered to be in vain.
According to a survey report by Gallup Korea on 1,006 Koreans over 19 years of age, conducted between May 26 and 28, 77 percent of the respondents said that they support the legislation, while 15 percent were against the idea and 8 percent were undecided.
More than 70 percent supported the idea regardless of region, sex, age, supporting party and religion, and respondents over forty were especially supportive, as 80 percent were up for the idea.
When asked what they would do if they were on life-support, 90 percent said that they would want the system to be turned off, while 4 percent said they would prefer additional care and 6 percent were undecided.
Among those against the legalization, 73 percent answered that they could shut off the system for themselves. Gallup Korea explained that those 73 percent were more concerned about the misuse of such laws.
When asked what they would do when their parents or partners’ life was barely sustained by a machine, 70 percent of the respondents over 50 said they would stop the machine.
However, among those in their twenties, only 44 percent answered similarly while 38 percent said that they would continue to keep the system on.
By M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
