Doctors warn on euthanasia

Original article by Andrew Tillett
The West Australian – Page: 15 : 1-Sep-14

There is opposition among Western Australian doctors to a federal private member’s Bill on euthanasia. The so-called "dying with dignity" bill is being introduced to federal parliament by Australian Greens senator Richard Di Natale. Dr Doug Bridges, the former head of palliative care at the Royal Perth Hospital, says the emphasis should be on giving terminally-ill patients good palliative care, adding that doctors should not be forced to kill people

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Nitschke investigated over death of murder suspect

Original article by Kate Hagan
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 8 : 11-Jul-14

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia will launch investigations of voluntary euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke. He had given advice on how to commit rational suicide to a Perth man, who was a suspect in his wife’s death. Nitschke maintains he had no duty to refer the 45-year-old to a psychiatrist, and he does not think that depression was a factor in the man’s decision to end his life. The Australian Medical Students’ Association has withdrawn an invitation to Nitschke to speak at its national congress

CORPORATES
EXIT INTERNATIONAL, MEDICAL BOARD OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION AGENCY, THE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LIMITED, BEYOND BLUE LIMITED

Concerns over mentally ill accessing euthanasia sites

Original article by Kate Hagan
The Age – Page: 8 : 8-Jul-14

Formal complaints are set to be lodged by mental depression awareness charities Black Dog Institute and beyondblue against medical doctor Philip Nitschke and the web sites he maintains. He had helped a Perth man, who was a suspect in his wife’s death, access a drug to commit suicide. Nitschke’s stance that he had no obligation to refer the 45-year-old to a general practitioner or psychiatrist has been criticised by the Australian Medical Association and by Victorian voluntary euthanasia advocate Rodney Syme

CORPORATES
EXIT INTERNATIONAL, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, BEYOND BLUE LIMITED, BLACK DOG INSTITUTE INCORPORATED