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As a lawyer and psychologist, Ji Yueliang helped interpret the euthanasia petition of a nearly paralyzed man named Chung into the Constitution. He also shared his experience of taking a patient suffering from a rare disease to Switzerland for euthanasia and called on Taiwan to face up to the need for autonomy and law regarding life.
Ji Yueliang, a lawyer and psychologist from Hualien, received a request from a man named Zhong in Hsinchu, who was nearly paralyzed and petitioned for permission.Euthanasia The constitutional lawsuit became the first case in Taiwan. Ji Yueliang has been campaigning for the legalization of euthanasia for many years. In June this year, he traveled with a patient suffering from a rare diseaseSwitzerland When it comes to euthanasia, he believes the Constitution should protect everyone’s right to autonomy in life. The experience also helped him understand why two Canadian doctors who perform euthanasia say euthanasia is a reason to help others.
Ji Yueliang is a lawyer and psychologist. He saw his grandparents and father die of disease one after another, especially when his father was diagnosed with cancer several years ago.liver cancer In the last phase, only 3 months from discovery to death, he stayed with them and saw his father suffering from the disease. Even morphine could not relieve the pain, and the pain was so excruciating that she asked him “When will I die?” This made him deeply feel that everyone should have autonomy of life and die with dignity. Nine years ago, he took to the streets to promote the legalization of euthanasia. He also served as president of the Taiwan Association for Promoting Autonomy in Life, speaking through various channels, hoping to awaken the public to pay attention to the issue.
Last year, he took the initiative to meet a patient surnamed He, who was suffering from the rare disease “Charcot-Marie-Duce syndrome (CMT)”. It is a hereditary peripheral neuropathy that affects the motor and sensory nerves. Motor and sensory nerves will gradually become disabled. The most severe condition is immobility and loss of feeling, but central nervous system functions such as breathing and digestion are normal. Such patients, if given comprehensive care, will become vegetative state with clear consciousness.
He said He Nan contracted the disease as a teenager and suffered from muscle atrophy and neurodegeneration for many years. Later, he could only crawl on all four legs. Due to rapid degeneration, He Nan, who is 40, was worried that he would soon enter a state of immobility. He could not wait for domestic euthanasia legislation and went to Switzerland in June to seek relief.
After learning about it, Ji Yueliang actively requested to accompany and met the man surnamed He in Switzerland. The two had lunch a day before the hanging. She felt that he was in a calm mood and knew that it was his choice. He did not want to suffer any more. This was the last journey of his life.
Before his death, he told Ji Yueliang that he hoped the association would continue to work hard. Although he could no longer wait for it to be implemented in China, he looked forward to the day when euthanasia would be legalized in Taiwan. As he pressed the button, his expression was quite calm.
Ji Yueliang said that euthanasia has been practiced in the Netherlands for more than 40 years, and countries such as Belgium have also discussed the issue of “free death for the elderly”, advocating that after a certain age, even if there is no serious illness, but you feel that you have lived enough life, you still have the right to request euthanasia. Other countries have taken hundreds of steps to protect people’s autonomy in life. In comparison, Taiwan can barely see the taillights of its cars.
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The main parties involved are Ji Yueliang, a Hualien lawyer and psychologist, and the man surnamed Zhong who entrusted him with filing the petition. Zhong Nan is nearly paralyzed and hopes to obtain permission for euthanasia through constitutional litigation, thus becoming the first such case in Taiwan.
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He saw his grandparents and father die of disease one after the other. In particular, his father’s terminal liver cancer was so painful that he asked when he would die. This made him deeply aware of the importance of suffering from illness and dying with dignity, so he dedicated himself to promoting the legalization of euthanasia.
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A patient suffering from a rare disease called Charcot-Marie-Deuce syndrome has suffered from long-term muscle atrophy and neurodegeneration. He was worried that he would soon become immobilized. He could not wait for the law to be enacted in Taiwan, so he moved to Switzerland in June to seek relief.
