The Law and Practice of Advance Directives and End-of-Life Care in Malaysia

Abstract

This chapter considers the role of advance directives in Malaysia, beginning with a discussion of the legal principles that are likely to apply in the end-of-life decision-making context. We then examine the professional guidance on advance directives published by the Malaysian Medical Council and the Ministry of Health, and highlight points of concern that such guidance has failed to address. The chapter then turns to consideration of the limited empirical data on advance directive awareness in Malaysia, followed by a discussion of the various sociocultural factors that may influence the acceptance of advance directives, with a particular focus on the significant roles played by the family and physicians. Religion as a key influence is also explored in relation to Malaysian attitudes towards advance directives.