Hospital takes death with dignity case to top court

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- A hospital in Seoul said Tuesday that it plans to
challenge a high court ruling ordering the removal of life-support aid for a
comatose patient at the request of her family.
Severance Hospital has refused to turn off respiratory-aid equipment used on the
77-year old patient identified by her surname Kim. The hospital, located in
western Seoul, said it decided to take its appeal to the Supreme Court.
"The patient reacts to pain, her blood pressure is stable and required nutrition
is delivered properly. We cannot remove the respiratory equipment as she will
surely die within a few hours without help," Park Chang-il, the hospital's chief,
said.
The woman suffered cerebral damage and fell into a vegetative state while
undergoing lung surgery in February last year. Her family has sought court
approval since June 2008 to turn off her respiratory device because of the low
likelihood she will recover.
A Seoul district court ordered the hospital to turn off the life-support
equipment in November 2008, the first such ruling in South Korea, triggering
controversy over the issue of "death with dignity." An appellate court earlier
this month upheld the lower court's ruling.
The hospital's decision was made after a four-hour meeting between top hospital
officials who debated issues ranging from the value of life to their ethical duty
toward the patient's family members, said Park.
"We understand the arguments in favor of euthanasia, but life cannot be taken on
the basis of rationality or pragmatism," explained Park. Other than her comatose
state, the hospital argues that the patient is not under any life-threatening
conditions.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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