For a father who neglected his wife and children and abandoned his family while addicted to gambling, a Taiwan court ruled to exempt his two daughters (sisters) from the support duty they would owe him, finding he had clearly failed his responsibilities as a parent.

Adult children's duty to support parents is set by law, but where parents have markedly neglected their child-rearing responsibilities, that duty may be exempted or reduced. The ruling is seen as an example of 'balancing rights and responsibilities.'

Experts hold that family support should rest on mutual responsibility, not one-sided compulsion, and that demanding old-age support from a parent who failed the duty to raise a child runs counter to fairness.

The ruling may serve as a legal reference for those in similar situations and reflects changing social views on rights and duties in family relationships.

We relay in balance social issues around family, law and responsibility. It is a time that calls for thoughtful discussion of the meaning of family and responsibility.