The concept of a living will is well established among healthcare providers in Thailand. However, assisted dying and euthanasia are not legally recognized or practiced in the country. Many healthcare providers even consider these practices immoral. Recently, some political parties have been using this issue as a campaign platform, which raises the possibility that these practices may become legal in the future.
With a living will, you have the option to be as detailed as you want regarding your healthcare preferences. You can choose whether or not you want CPR, endotracheal intubation, pain management with morphine, and where you would like to pass away - either in the hospital or at home. This practice is recognized nationwide in Thailand, although there may be some areas where it is not as well organized. However, such cases are rare.
In Thailand, the opinions of relatives are often taken into account when making healthcare decisions for a patient. It is therefore advisable to discuss your healthcare preferences with your family or representative beforehand, in order to avoid any misunderstandings or conflicts. There have been instances where healthcare providers have had a hard time dealing with situations where the patient had already expressed their preference to not receive CPR, but their relatives were not aware of it. This is due to cultural factors, where the voices of relatives are often given significant weight in decision-making.
Withholding life support is a common practice in Thailand and is generally accepted nationwide without issue. However, withdrawing life support can be much more difficult but is not impossible. Some may see withdrawing life support as a form of passive euthanasia, but healthcare professionals in Thailand consider there to be significant differences between the two. If you would like to explore this topic in greater detail, I would be happy to discuss it further with you.