THE DOCTOR WHO HEALS, MAY ALSO KILL THE PATIENT

Media Release

STATEMENT FROM THE RIGHT TO LIFE AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

THE DOCTOR WHO HEALS, MAY ALSO KILL THE PATIENT

The Right to Life Australia Inc. condemns the passage of the doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia bill in the Northern Territory. 

Despite opposition to the bill by so many individuals and groups including First Nations people, medical doctors and nurses, palliative care teams and those dedicated to  patient care, doctors have now been given the go-ahead to deliberately end the lives of terminally ill patients.   Right to Life Australia has lobbied extensively during this period to expose the dangers of this legislation and why it should never be passed in the Northern Territory.

First Nations people opposed this bill from the very start – yet they, most sadly will bear the brunt of doctor-prescribed suicide and euthanasia in the future.  In the vast and remote rural electorate of Gwoja the opposition was expressed to their representative, Mr Paech MLA – who said:  

“Many have also told me that this concept of voluntary assisted dying is difficult to translate and even hard to understand in a cultural context. For many of our mob in the bush, it is not just about language, it is about a worldview.” "This idea does not easily fit within our cultural ways of understanding life, death and the role of family and kinship. If not communicated carefully and respectfully, it risks causing distress and confusion and, in some cases, could even create cultural and community unrest."

Suicide and suicidality are significant concerns within First Nations communities. The Heads of Department – Alice Springs Hospital described “Voluntary Assisted Dying” –“VAD” as:

“An enormous shift in cultural and moral views within the Australian community, where the understanding of death is changed radically by access to the ability to legally end one’s own life, under conditions defined in legislation.  This creates a significant shift in understandings of suicide and suicidality.”

It is commendable so many doctors and nurses have contacted their representatives objecting to being involved in this practice.  They know their patients need proper healthcare and are not prepared to be part of the “VAD” system.  All Northern Territorians deserve to receive palliative care and if so wished, to die on country.  Fully funded, comprehensive palliative care can meet those needs.  Without it, people are defenceless and vulnerable – possibly thinking euthanasia is the only option.

There will be no doubt unintended consequences of this legislation.  The transcript of the hearing of the Palliative Care Team at Alice Springs Hospital gives an insight. Fred Meegle, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Community Palliative Care at Alice Springs Hospital started working there 30 years ago around the time of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 coming into operation.  He spoke about the impact on the numbers of people who turned up for vaccinations: ‘The other thing was a lot of the misinformation that was out there and dealing with that at that time; places like Tennant Creek Hospital the impact on that the numbers of people turning up for immunisations and treatment actually dropped away, they had to declare themselves a euthanasia-free zone because of the impact of what VAD would mean, in that way.

The Right to Life Australia Inc. will continue to oppose the devaluing of human life and intentional killing of sick and vulnerable patients. All human life has intrinsic value and dignity – regardless of its condition – and the doctor’s role is to heal illness, alleviate suffering and provide comfort for the sick and dying. 

Legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia can never be made safe, compromises palliative care, is a risk to people with disabilities, is unable to protect the vulnerable and erodes the doctor-patient relationship.  For First Nations people, already concerned that many of their relatives who have died in hospital were not valued, legalising assisted suicide no doubt will increase distrust of the medical profession because now the doctor who heals, may also kill the patient.