사전의사결정(Advance Directives)의 속성-대리인 지정을 중심으로

The purpose of this study was to explore the main features of proxy decision-making in advance directives. Fifty-three advance directive documents from the US, New Zealand, and Korea were retrieved through database searches and then analyzed. The following eight distinctive categories concerning proxy decision-making were identified: 1) establishment of proxy authority; 2) certification of proxy authority; 3) extent of proxy authority; 4) qualifications for proxies; 5) legal validity of proxy documents; 6) period of proxy authority; 7) revocation of proxy authority; and 8) exceptional regulations. It is pointed out in this article that prior to the regulation of proxy decision-making in Korea, relevant experts should consider each of the eight elements listed above and articulate clear guidelines for proxy decision-making.