What is an Advance Medical Directive?
The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance came into effect on 31 July 2026, giving statutory recognition to advance medical directives (AMDs). It allows every mentally capable adult aged 18 or above to specify in advance their decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment should they develop an irreversible condition and become mentally incapable to make medical decisions. This helps avoid unwanted unnecessary treatment, reduce suffering at the end of life, and enable individuals to approach the final stage of life with dignity.
How to Make an Advance Medical Directive (AMD)?
To make a valid Advance Medical Directive, the individual must be an adult aged 18 or above and must have mental capacity at the time of making the directive. The document must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses for it to be legally binding.
One of the witnesses must be a registered medical practitioner in Hong Kong. This doctor is responsible for fully explaining the contents and options of the Advance Medical Directive to the individual and confirming that the person has sufficient mental capacity at the time of signing. Neither witness can be an “interested person”, meaning they must not be a beneficiary of the person’s estate, insurance policy, or similar.
Our Fees
Alongside offers Advance Medical Directive services, including a detailed explanation of the directive by a registered doctor and witnessing.
Standard Fee: HK$2,000*
3rd Anniversary Limited 30% Off Offer: HK$1,400 (Offer valid until August 31, 2026)
*Certified true copy service (HK$100 per copy) and eHealth electronic upload service (HK$300 per copy) are available
*To enjoy this offer, bookings must be completed and a HK$500 deposit paid on or before August 31. Please refer to the Terms & Conditions for details.
Why Make an Advance Medical Directive (AMD)?
Under current Hong Kong law, adults aged 18 or above have the right to make their own healthcare decisions, including whether to accept or refuse any treatment. However, if a patient loses mental capacity, they can no longer decide on their course of treatment. The healthcare team must then make clinical decisions based on the patient’s “best interests”. Although the team will seek to consult the patient’s family wherever possible, the final decision remains with the healthcare professionals.
When family members disagree with one another or with the medical team—or when the patient has no relatives—the healthcare team may not know the patient’s wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment at the end of life. This may result in unwanted invasive treatment that prolongs the patient’s suffering.
✗ Without an AMD
✓ With an AMD
Healthcare professionals
Life-saving treatments will generally be attempted
Guided by the principle of preserving life, healthcare professionals may perform interventions such as intubation, mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Life-sustaining Treatments refused by the patient will not be administered
Healthcare professionals must act in accordance with the patient’s AMD and receive legal protection when carrying out the patient’s wishes.
The patient’s family
Disagreements may lead to conflict
Family members may disagree among each other over whether to continue life-saving treatment or allow their loved one to pass away peacefully, leaving them caught in a painful conflict.
Family members can focus on being present for one another
As their loved one has already made their own end-of-life treatment decisions, family members do not have to make difficult choices during an emergency.
The patient
Their wishes may be overlooked
The patient may receive life-sustaining treatment they do not want at the end of life, unnecessarily prolonging their suffering.
Their end-of-life wishes are respected
The patient retains autonomy throughout life and can approach its final stage with greater dignity.
Why Make an Advance Medical Directive (AMD)?
Under current Hong Kong law, adults aged 18 or above have the right to make their own healthcare decisions, including whether to accept or refuse any treatment. However, if a patient loses mental capacity, they can no longer decide on their course of treatment. The healthcare team must then make clinical decisions based on the patient’s “best interests”. Although the team will seek to consult the patient’s family wherever possible, the final decision remains with the healthcare professionals.
When family members disagree with one another or with the medical team—or when the patient has no relatives—the healthcare team may not know the patient’s wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment at the end of life. This may result in unwanted invasive treatment that prolongs the patient’s suffering.
✗ Without an AMD
✓ With an AMD
Healthcare professionals
Life-saving treatments will generally be attempted
Guided by the principle of preserving life, healthcare professionals may perform interventions such as intubation, mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Life-sustaining Treatments refused by the patient will not be administered
Healthcare professionals must act in accordance with the patient’s AMD and receive legal protection when carrying out the patient’s wishes.
The patient’s family
Disagreements may lead to conflict
Family members may disagree among each other over whether to continue life-saving treatment or allow their loved one to pass away peacefully, leaving them caught in a painful conflict.
Family members can focus on being present for one another
As their loved one has already made their own end-of-life treatment decisions, family members do not have to make difficult choices during an emergency.
The patient
Their wishes may be overlooked
The patient may receive life-sustaining treatment they do not want at the end of life, unnecessarily prolonging their suffering.
Their end-of-life wishes are respected
The patient retains autonomy throughout life and can approach its final stage with greater dignity.
Scope of Application of an Advance Medical Directive (AMD)
An Advance Medical Directive will only take effect when the individual has lost mental capacity and the specific medical condition selected in the directive is met.
The three pre-defined conditions are:
Terminal Illness
A terminal illness refers to an irreversible, end-stage condition — such as advanced, metastatic cancer — that cannot be cured with current medical treatment, and where life expectancy is limited to a few days, weeks, or months.
Persistent Vegetative State or Irreversible Coma
This refers to a permanent loss of consciousness caused by severe brain injury, where the person has no self-awareness or response to external stimuli, and no possibility of recovery.
Note: Irreversible coma does not include coma caused by drugs or metabolic issues, which may be reversible.
Other End-Stage Irreversible Life-Limiting Conditions
This includes diseases other than terminal illness or persistent vegetative state that are in their final stages, medically irreversible, and where life expectancy is extremely limited.
Examples include end-stage kidney failure, advanced motor neuron disease, or late-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
About Refusing Life-Sustaining Treatment
Euthanasia is not legal in Hong Kong, and therefore making an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is not equivalent to euthanasia. A person making an AMD can only specify in the directive their wish to refuse part or all of life-sustaining treatments.
Life-sustaining treatment refers to medical procedures used to prolong life, but which do not cure the underlying illness. Common examples include:
CPR
Mechanical ventilation
Intubation
Inotropic (heart-stimulating) drugs
Blood transfusions
Pacemakers
Dialysis
Antibiotics
Artificial nutrition or hydration
Other specialised treatments
Treatments That Cannot Be Refused
The purpose of an Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is to reduce suffering at the end of life and allow for a dignified passing. Therefore, even if an AMD has been signed, basic nursing care (such as cleaning the body or repositioning) and palliative treatments (such as morphine and other pain relief) will still be provided.
How to Revoke an Advance Medical Directive
Following the principle of “cautious making, easy revoking,” a signed Advance Medical Directive can be revoked at any time, as long as the individual still has mental capacity.
Methods of revocation include:
- Destroying the original document
- Signing a written revocation statement
- Declaring revocation in the presence of witnesses
- Creating a new AMD to replace the existing one
An individual may revoke an electronic Advance Medical Directive (eAMD) uploaded to eHealth through the eHealth App himself.
Alongside’s One-Stop Advance Medical Directive Service
Alongside has helped more than 300 individuals make an Advance Medical Directive, making us one of the community's largest professional AMD service providers.
Witnessed by a Registered Medical Practitioner
Our service includes witnessing by a registered medical practitioner, so there is no need to find a doctor separately or pay an additional doctor’s fee. This makes professional and affordable Advance Medical Directive services accessible to everyone.
Dedicated One-to-One Support
Every client is assigned a dedicated case manager who answers questions, explains the documents and provides ongoing, personalised support.
Convenient Service Locations
We partner with medical centres across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, enabling clients from different districts to book and access our services conveniently.
No Health-Status Restrictions
Whatever your stage of life or health condition, you may use our service provided that you meet the statutory eligibility requirements. Our support is not limited to people with terminal illnesses.
Take Action Today. Safeguard your Lifelong Autonomy
Book Alongside’s One-stop Advance Medical Directive Services
Service Fee
HKD $2,000
Enquiries & Appointments
9777 8046 (WhatsApp)
Free Advance Medical Directives for Eligible Persons funded by the SIE fund
The free advance medical directive service is funded by the SIE Fund. Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligible Persons include：
- Elderly households
- Persons with chronic diseases and their carers
- Single parents
- Subdivided unit households
Questions?
We are eager to hear from you and provide any assistance you may need. We look forward to connecting with you soon!