Hospital decides to remove life-support from comatose patient

(ATTN: ADDS details, quotes from hospital, family)
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- A hospital ordered by the country's top court to
remove life-support device from a comatose patient said Wednesday it will comply.
The date will be decided after consultations with the family, the Yonsei
Severance Hospital in Seoul said.
"It is a meaningful decision that the hospital accepts the court's order," said a
member of the hospital's ethics committee that met to discuss the issue. "We will
do our best to respect the patient's family."
In the first ruling allowing what physicians sometimes refer to as "passive
euthanasia" for a patient with virtually no chance of recovery, the Supreme Court
said the hospital should respect the family's wish for the patient to "die with
dignity."
The patient, 77 and known only by her last name Kim, lapsed into a coma in
February last year after suffering cerebral damage after a surgery.
Following the top court's ruling, the family asked that Kim be immediately
removed from life support.
According to the hospital, Kim relies on artificial ventilation as the sole means
of survival.
"The family is having a very hard time taking care of the patient," said Shin
Hyun-ho, the family's attorney, criticizing the hospital for not immediately
carrying out the court ruling.
"The hospital should withdraw the respirator as soon as possible to lighten the
burden on the family and allow them to hold a funeral," Shin said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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