GESTIÓN EN SALUD PÚBLICA: BioEdge: ‘Tsunami’ of elderly and euthanasia are not a good mix, say Queensland doctors

sábado, 6 de julio de 2019

BioEdge: ‘Tsunami’ of elderly and euthanasia are not a good mix, say Queensland doctors

BioEdge: ‘Tsunami’ of elderly and euthanasia are not a good mix, say Queensland doctors

Bioedge

‘Tsunami’ of elderly and euthanasia are not a good mix, say Queensland doctors

by Michael Cook | 6 Jul 2019 |

With a “tsunami” of elderly patients with severe health problems approaching, Australians should not be legalising euthanasia, a senior doctor has told the Queensland Parliament. It could increase the pressure on vulnerable older people who feel they are a "burden" on others to do away with themselves, said Dr Chrys Pulle, on behalf of the Australian New Zealand Society of Geriatric Medicine Queensland.

“There [are] risks of voluntary and involuntary euthanasia on patients with cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium or reduced capacity; adverse effects on the funding for palliative care services and research; changing the concept of doctors being treaters and life savers and healers."

"We need education for the wider public, as well as older people, about what expectations we're likely to face once we've been diagnosed with a chronic neurodegenerative disease, or chronic pain condition," he said. "No one wants to be that patient in the dementia ward that's agitated. It's not what their loved one wants. And oftentimes that reflects the wish to end somebody's life."

The head of the Australian Medical Association Queensland ethic committee, Dr Chris Moy said voluntary euthanasia could lead to unintended consequences.

"You're opening up the issue of value of life, that's not just from other people imposing their values of life onto individuals, which is a problem, but the second part is individuals starting to value their lives in a different way as well. It may not just be elderly, there are disabled, there are children, you're opening it up."

A committee of the Queensland Parliament is conducting a year-long inquiry into voluntary assisted dying, palliative care and aged care issues.

Michael Cook is editor of BioEdge

L’Affaire Vincent Lambert, as the French call it, seems to be just about over. Doctors are going to remove hydration and nutrition from the 42-year-old nurse, who was severely brain-damaged in an accident in 2008. The appeal process initiated by his parents to keep him alive has ground to a halt now that France’s highest court has ruled on the case. It will be interesting to see whether more of the 1700 patients in his situation in France will also be given what is called in France “passive euthanasia“.