Australian doctors and nurses support controversial euthanasia bill
Most NSW doctors and nurses support a controversial medial euthanasia bill that’s headed for Parliament, amid debate surrounding assisted suicide laws.
The bill, which will allow patients to apply for medically assisted euthanasia in specific circumstances when older the 25, will be introduced to the NSW upper house in August.
The survey, carried out by market research company Ekas, found 60 per cent of doctors supported the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, and as many as 80 per cent of nurses were in favour of the law reform, albeit from a smaller sample group.
The research was reportedly paid for by a crowd-funding campaign for Annie Gabrielides, a motor neurone disease sufferer who is an advocate of euthanasia.
"I'm consistently hearing from doctors and medical experts expressing their sincere support of my campaign, but they're reluctant to speak out," she said.
The controversial law changes could leave the medical profession divided, with the Australian Medical Association warning research could overstate doctor’s support.
AMA NSW president Brad Frankum told Fairfax, “It is likely that doctors with more strongly held opinions are responding to these surveys so caution must be used.”
A spokesman for the AMA also emphasised that a national poll of 4000 doctors last year found 50 per cent of doctors believed medical professionals should not be involved in assisted suicide.
So, what’s your take? Do you believe in voluntary euthanasia?