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The Dying Patient Law and advance directives
The Dying Patient Law allows a competent patient to refuse life-prolonging treatment when his disease is incurable and his life expectancy short, but forbids active euthanasia and assisted suicide — and advance directives and a proxy let that wish act even when the patient can no longer speak.
Why it matters in the exam
The exam asks "according to the Dying Patient Law, which is true?", what a proxy may decide, the difference between continuous and periodic treatment, and how long advance directives are valid. Other questions describe a terminal patient in severe pain and ask about analgesia that may shorten life.
Remember the definitions: a dying patient — life expectancy of up to 6 months; a patient in the final stage — up to two weeks, with several systems failing.
The family doctor usually knows the patient for years, so he is best placed to open a conversation about end-of-life wishes while the patient is still competent — and to record them in advance directives or the appointment of a proxy. Further questions deal with feeding and fluids in the final stage.
Key points
- Dying patient — life expectancy of up to 6 months; final stage — up to two weeks.
- A competent patient may refuse life-prolonging treatment.
- Periodic treatment — may be left unrenewed; continuous treatment — not disconnected.
- Forbidden: active euthanasia and assisted suicide.
- Advance directives — two witnesses, valid 5 years; the proxy acts on the patient's wish.
Summary table
| Concept | Definition | What is allowed | What is forbidden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dying patient | Incurable disease, life expectancy of up to 6 months | Withhold life-prolonging treatment according to his wish | Active euthanasia and assisted suicide |
| Periodic treatment | Treatment given in cycles (dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) | Not renewing the next cycle | — |
| Continuous treatment | Treatment without interruption (ventilators) | It may be converted to periodic with a timer | Actively disconnecting continuous treatment |
| Supportive and palliative care | Relief of pain and suffering, even if it may shorten life | Allowed and even required | Withholding routine care and comfort |
| Advance medical directives | A written document, signed before two witnesses | Valid 5 years, renewable; registered in the Ministry of Health database | Witnesses who are relatives or heirs |
| Proxy | A person the patient appointed to decide for him when he cannot | Decides according to the patient's known wish | Deciding against the wish the patient expressed |
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Sources
- State of Israel, 2005 — The Dying Patient Law
- State of Israel, 1962 (amended 2016) — Legal Capacity and Guardianship Law — enduring power of attorney
- Israel Ministry of Health, current — Advance medical directives and appointment of a proxy: forms and registration
Sources are given for further reading; the text is written afresh and not copied from them.
Reviewed by the Examqo AI Professor · 2026-11-06. The text may contain errors; when in doubt, check the source.