Euthenasia

This week the South Austrailan parliament will be reconsidering the Medical Defences Bill which would allow a defence for a doctor who euthenases a patient at their request. Both the AMA and the Law Society have expressed concerns about this bill, however the majority of parilimentarians seem to be in favour.

Some ammendments have been made to the bill since we last posted. For example, two specialists may now be called in to verify the request. However, any investigation of the legitimacy of the request will still only occur following the death of the patient.

There is pleny of reports about people that have been at a low ebb, wished to die and later were glad that was not possible. There are also plenty of palliative provisions that could be considered by doctors and patients that may be overlooked when this legislation is passed.

Please contact your member of parliament as soon as possible to express your concerns, if you have any. I have spoken to both Chloe Fox (the member of my electorate) and Alan Sibbons (the member representing the electorate where our Seacombe Centre is) to express my concerns. Both have graciously responded in writing. I believe that if enough South Australians are concerned and speak up, we can make a difference to the outcome of this vote.