Hong Kong’s new end-of-life law poses operational challenges for frontline responders

Hong Kong’s new legislation on end-of-life directives could create significant operational challenges, including verifying patients’ wishes in emergencies and affordability barriers for low-income families, according to frontline responders and patient advocates.

The warnings come a week before the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance takes effect next Friday.

Under the law, a formal legal framework will empower Hongkongers to specify in advance which life-sustaining treatments they wish to refuse when terminally ill.

Sherman Wong Chun-man, chairman of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Ambulance Officers Association, warned that frontline workers may encounter practical difficulties in implementing the ordinance.

He noted that ambulance crews often faced split-second, life-or-death decisions upon arrival at emergency sites, with limited or incomplete information.

“Even when the relevant documents are present on site, ambulance personnel must still assess whether they apply based on the patient’s actual clinical condition at that moment,” he said.