Though the Patient Right to Autonomy Act, enacted in 2016 and implemented in 2019, does strengthen the rights to autonomy for patients in Taiwan and provides more choices for certain types of critically ill patients other than terminal ones, it also provoked much criticism. For instance, Master Chao-hwei expressed her concern for the law through her article "The dilemma between 'living and suffering' and 'dying but relieved': in search of answers from within the soul - approaching patient autonomy with fluidity and subtlety." She quoted a scholar who questioned the medical determination of a permanent vegetative state and pointed out that the rate of misdiagnosis is as high as 40%. Even some patients diagnosed with a vegetative state may have competence, leading others may decide "against the patient's voluntary will after being in a vegetative state" for such patients. Moreover, Master Chao-hwei thinks that patients, according to the Patient Right to Autonomy Act, are allowed to withdraw life-supporting treatments under certain conditions, which will cause the patients to die due to hunger, thirst, or cessation of breathing. This article aims to examine the above points of view of Master Chao-hwei. The author believes that Master Chao-hwei's doubts about diagnosing a vegetative state can only lead to the conclusion that we should adopt a more cautious attitude and use more advanced medical technology to examine patients to confirm their condition. Her doubts are insufficient in denying patients the right to make an advanced decision to refuse relevant medical treatment. As for the withdrawal of life-supporting treatment and artificial nutrition and hydration, it is not the same as deliberately not allowing the patient to breathe or starving or thirsting them to death. It should not also be regarded as not providing any treatment, as Master Chao-hwei quoted from a physician, but rather be considered as the form of therapy has been changed from aggressive to palliative. However, the current palliative care cannot completely alleviate the pain caused by the disease to patients, which may lead us to consider whether to allow physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. In this regard, Master Chao-hwei also raised objections from the Buddhist point of view in other works. This article will also reexamine the opinion of Master Chao-hwei about this question.
