Ethics-Governance: Article: MJA: Van Der Weyden, Deaths, dying and the euthanasia debate in Australia

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MJA: Van Der Weyden, Deaths, dying and the euthanasia debate in Australia Deaths, dying and the euthanasia debate in Australia The findings of a study of end-of-life medical decisions in Australia may provide ammunition for both supporters and opponents of euthanasia MJA 1997; 166: 173 Readers may print a single copy for personal use. No further reproduction or distribution of the articles should proceed without the permission of the publisher. For permission, contact the Australasian Medical Publishing Company Journalists are welcome to write news stories based on what they read here, but should acknowledge their source as "an article published on the Internet by The Medical Journal of Australia ". General trends have emerged: there is majority community support for euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide The debate on euthanasia in Australia shifted abruptly from abstraction to reality with the passage of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act by the Northern Territory Parliament in May 1995. Overnight, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide became a legal choice for people with terminal illness.1 The Act has focused and polarised opinions on issues relating to medical decisions at the end of life. The deaths of three Australians (to date) under the provisions of the Act have been accompanied by an outburst of variously composed Greek choruses: citizens, ethicists, doctors, politicians, and media commentators. What should have been dignified and private affairs have been transformed into public events. The intent and provisions of the Act are supported by, among others, the Doctors' Reform Society, the Euthanasia Society, and the AIDS Council of New South Wales. They are opposed by the Australian Medical Association (AMA),2 the Australian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care,3 mainstream religions, Right To Life Australia, and organisations representing the aged and those with disabilities. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/feb17/mvdw/mvdw.html


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