Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the urgent need for improved palliative care in China, highlighting that nearly 30,000 people die daily, which underscores the importance of making "good death" a public concern and accessible service for all [3][8]. Group 1: Current State of Palliative Care - Palliative care, also known as end-of-life care, aims to provide comfort and support to patients in the terminal stages of illness, focusing on symptom control and emotional support for both patients and families [4][5]. - The World Health Organization's principles of palliative care stress the importance of recognizing death as a normal process and providing relief from pain and discomfort without hastening or delaying death [5]. Group 2: Policy and Regulatory Framework - The Chinese government has initiated policies to promote palliative care, including the inclusion of palliative care centers in the medical institution directory, which marks a significant step in legal support for the industry [6][9]. - The "Healthy China" initiative has laid the groundwork for palliative care development, with specific guidelines and standards established for palliative care centers since 2017 [6][9]. Group 3: Challenges and Obstacles - Despite policy support, the quality of end-of-life care in China remains low, with issues such as inadequate pain management and lack of psychological support being prevalent [7][9]. - Payment mechanisms pose a significant challenge, as current reimbursement systems may not adequately cover palliative care services, affecting accessibility and sustainability [9][10]. Group 4: Future Directions and Opportunities - The recent national planning documents emphasize the need to enhance the care system for elderly individuals, including expanding palliative care services [11][12]. - The integration of palliative care into public health strategies is deemed necessary to address the growing demand due to an aging population and to fulfill ethical responsibilities [13]. Group 5: Company Initiatives - TaiKang has established a comprehensive palliative care model, providing multidisciplinary services across 10 facilities in 9 cities, with plans to expand to 15 facilities and increase bed capacity to nearly 150 by next year [14]. - The company focuses on a four-in-one model of palliative care, which includes comfort care, humanistic care, and grief therapy, with dedicated staff for each aspect, contrasting with the reliance on volunteers in many hospitals [14].

Core Points - The implementation of the "Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act" in South Korea since February 2018 has led to over 3 million adults, approximately 6.8% of the adult population, signing documents to refuse life-sustaining treatment [1][11] - The law allows adults aged 19 and above to voluntarily fill out advance directives to refuse or discontinue life-sustaining treatment, with a significant increase in registrations observed over the years [10][11] - The concept of "dignified death" is gaining acceptance in South Korea, particularly among the elderly, as societal attitudes towards death and dying evolve [5][9] Group 1 - Over 440,000 individuals have terminated life-sustaining treatment based on the law [3] - The number of people signing advance directives surged from about 86,000 in 2018 to over 300,000 by August 2025 [11] - The law outlines specific medical interventions that can be refused, including CPR, dialysis, cancer treatment, and mechanical ventilation [10][11] Group 2 - The aging population in South Korea is a significant factor driving the acceptance of "dignified death," with over 20% of the population aged 65 and above by the end of 2024 [9] - The cultural shift towards accepting death as a natural part of life is reflected in personal stories of individuals choosing to refuse life-sustaining treatments [5][6] - The law has led to a reduction in the number of patients dying in pain due to unnecessary medical interventions [29] Group 3 - There is a notable difference in the acceptance of "dignified death" among elderly women, with 24.9% of women aged 65 and above signing advance directives compared to 17.1% of men [38] - Economic factors play a role in the decision-making process, with lower-income individuals more likely to support "dignified death" due to the financial burden of prolonged medical care [33][34] - Despite the progress, many patients still face challenges in accessing adequate palliative care, particularly those with non-cancerous terminal illnesses [34][35]