Advance Directives Across Asia: A Comparative Socio-legal Analysis

Abstract

In this final chapter, we offer some comparative analysis and tentative concluding comments. We begin with an examination of different aspects of the law and practice of advance directives (ADs) in these jurisdictions, identifying similarities and trends. With this summary of the various connections between these jurisdictions, we then offer some broader reflections on two key features common to Asian jurisdictions, the role of religion and the role of the family. We conclude with a critical examination of this emerging picture of ADs in Asia, arguing that these insights suggest that distinctive patterns of “generative accommodation” are observable as a way of aligning international consensus with localised traditions and expectations in a more nuanced account of the meeting ground between the East and the West.