'Living will' regulation to debut in Shenzhen

Patients in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, will be allowed to decide, starting next year, whether they want to undergo certain lifesaving measures at the final stage of their life, according to a newly amended city regulation.

The move, reportedly the first in the Chinese mainland, has received wide public attention, as it touches on one of the core concerns of elderly people－whether they can decide how they die.

Under the revised regulation adopted late last month by the Standing Committee of the Shenzhen People's Congress－the local legislature－if a patient makes a "living will" that clearly states he or she does not want to receive treatment, such as intubation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or be placed on life support, medical workers should respect that decision.