Police to Review Doctor's Claim He Prescribed Dying Man Drugs

Melbourne, 22 Jun 07 -- POLICE will review an investigation into Steve Guest's death following a doctor's admission he prescribed medication that may have helped him die.

Rodney Syme told a public rally on Wednesday that he gave medication to Mr Guest before the 58-year-old committed suicide in his Point Lonsdale home in July, 2005, after a painful battle with oesophageal cancer.

Dr Syme, vice-president of Dying With Dignity Victoria, told protesters he believed prescribing Mr Guest drugs had been a form of palliative care rather than a case of assisted suicide.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen McIntyre said he was unaware until late yesterday that Dr Syme had made further comments about Mr Guest's death.

He said police would follow up exactly what was said.

``We have to take on board what has been said and make decisions as to where it goes from there,'' Det-Sen-Sgt McIntyre said.

Det-Sen-Sgt McIntyre is heading an investigation by the homicide squad into Mr Guest's death at the request of the coroner.

Dr Syme was interviewed about 18 months ago as part of the investigation but told the Geelong Advertiser he had not told police about the prescription.

He refused to disclose the medication or dose involved.

Det-Sen-Sgt McIntyre said prior to Dr Syme's comments this week, the investigation had been due to be completed and a brief of evidence handed to the coroner in the ``next couple of months''.

He said police had not decided whether or not to lay charges and once the brief was completed it was up to the coroner to decide if an inquest was needed.

Assisted suicide carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment but Dr Syme said no doctor had been charged in Victoria in the past 40 years as police turned a blind eye to the consequences of ``utterly opaque'' legislation.

Dr Syme's stance was supported by Labor MP for Mount Waverley and parliamentary secretary for health Maxine Morand, and Liberal MP for Bass Ken Smith.

Mr Smith wants to introduce a private members Bill in State Parliament to enable doctors to prescribe drugs to terminally ill people who want to die.

By Mex Cooper, Geelong Advertiser