Taiwan health ministry to study euthanasia law within a year

Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced it will issue a feasibility report on legalised euthanasia within twelve months. Minister Shih Tsung‑liang said the issue touches medical ethics, patient rights, family concerns, professional responsibilities and legal safeguards, and therefore cannot be settled by a simple Yes/No referendum.

The push for legislation follows a recent case in which a 48‑year‑old patient with a rare disease travelled to Switzerland for assisted death, sparking debate in the Legislative Yuan. Lawmakers have introduced both a “Dignified End‑of‑Life Act” and an “Euthanasia Act” for consideration. The ministry plans to review international practices, Taiwan’s palliative‑care framework, and the legal mechanisms needed to protect vulnerable patients before any draft is tabled.