The right to die: Establishing a legal framework for living wills and healthcare proxies in the Philippines

• Main Authors: Alvar, Clyne Michael Jude, Del Rosario, Edracel, Limjoco, Justinelli
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Advance directives (Medical care); Living wills; Patients—Civil rights; Right to health; Law
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_law/4; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=etdm_law
• Institution: De La Salle University

Advance directives permit an individual to communicate in an explicit manner how he or she wishes to be treated before the treatment is needed. In line with the right to life and the recognition of the autonomy of an individual, a person can continue to have control over his or her own life even though unconscious or in a state of comatose. This paper investigated the application of advance directives, such as living wills and healthcare proxies, in the Philippines. The researchers used two research methods — Most Similar System Design to incorporate the style of living wills and healthcare proxies in the United States of America; and Cross-Sectional Study Design to determine the view of Filipinos about living wills and healthcare proxies. The researchers found out that the Filipino Government can use the framework of the United States of America regarding living wills and healthcare proxies as a basis in creating a law about it. Further, most of the Filipinos agree that the Filipino government should implement a law regarding living wills and healthcare proxies.