The Legislative Yuan approved a revised bill on Monday to allow close relatives to request the withdrawal of life support systems for terminally ill patients. But details of execution need to be further specified by the Department of Health before the new policy can be implemented.

Terminally ill patients are unable to speak and eat; they only live on life support, a suffering that their family members bear not to see.

In the future, with family's consent, doctors can legally remove life support of terminally ill patients.

But doctors believe this may be too difficult to be done clinically given the high requirement.

The rules of the Hospice and Palliative Care Act specify that such decision is only legal when two doctors give their professional opinion, adult children and parents all sign and agree to the action and the medical ethic committee of the hospital approves.

Local groups worry the lack of execution experiences of life support removal would be a problem and believe doctors may need some lessons on medical ethics.

Both medical professionals and local groups urge the Department of Health to quickly outline the details of execution, including the definition of terminally ill patients and whether or not signature or oral consent is acceptable.

To prevent any medical disputes that come afterwards, the best solution is that patients sign a Do-Not-Resuscitate Declaration form, which serves as the most legitimate reason for all parties.