Doctor's Group Says AMA Euthanasia View "Out of Step"

Sep. 18 2007

The AMA's policy of opposing voluntary euthanasia is completely out of step with the views of modern Australia, according to a group of doctors lobbying for its decriminalisation.

Called Doctors for AMA Neutrality on Voluntary Euthanasia, the group of 29 medical practitioners, including eight GPs from around Australia, has written to the association to comment on a recent AMA draft position statement on end-of-life care, which has not yet been made public.

A spokesman for the voluntary euthanasia advocacy group, Professor Arnold Gillespie, said at present the AMA was against the concept of a doctor being involved in assisting voluntary euthanasia or even prescribing a drug that would result in ending a patient's life.

"This current policy does not best represent or protect doctors or patients," he said. The 29 signatories said that effective pain relief could not be achieved in all situations and some terminally ill patients suffered greatly.

Signatory to the letter Adelaide GP Dr David Tye said while voluntary euthanasia was not constantly on the minds of GPs, it was something patients would bring up occasionally.

"It's something I don't believe should be criminalised out of a doctor's armamentia," he said. "And we don't believe the AMA can take part in the voluntary euthanasia debate when it already has a position on one side of the fence."

AMA president Dr Rosanna Capolingua did not respond to requests for comment before Australian Doctor went to press.

A recent Morgan Poll shows that almost 80% of Australians believe a doctor should be allowed to administer a lethal dose to a terminally ill patient. In a 2001 survey of 683 Australian surgeons, one-third said they had administered drugs in doses more than necessary to relieve symptoms with the intention of hastening death.

Voluntary euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland, and in the US state of Oregon.

Janet Grist
Australian Doctor