Euthanasia and End-of-life Issues

(News Page)

26.01.07

Dr John Elliott (Australian passes away; euthanasia overseas)

Date with death: how John Elliott ended his life
The Age, Australia - 26 Jan 2007

'What have I got to look forward to? Pain and death'
The Age, Australia - 26 Jan 2007

Choosing to die a long way from home
The Age, Australia - 26 Jan 2007

The last goodbye
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 26 Jan 2007

My name is Dr John Elliott and I'm about to die, with my head held ...
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 26 Jan 2007

27.08.06

MP set to break death law
Democrats MLC Sandra Kanck is planning to use parliamentary privilege this week in a speech which could breach new laws about euthanasia. (Sunday Mail (SA), 27 August 2006)

22.08.06

Grandmother labelled 'not for resuscitation' by hospital

A 94-YEAR-OLD grandmother who told her family she was happy to wake up alive every day was listed as "not for resuscitation" against her family's will because of a misunderstanding at Frankston Hospital.

Donna Kelly told the Melbourne Coroner's Court yesterday she was shocked to find the acronym "NFR" on her grandmother Phyllis Oldfield's medical records after she died in January last year. Her family believed they had consented to resuscitation in the event of a cardiac arrest.

Mrs Oldfield, who was described as being bright and active leading up to her death, died from heart failure with "minimal" resuscitation attempts at the hospital on January 4, 12 days later.

The inquest continues today.

(The Age, 22 August 2006)

16.08.06

MPs concerned over 'living will' Bill
Legislation that would allow terminally ill patients in Western Australia to refuse medical treatment could be set for defeat, with several MPs expressing concern about the 'living will' Bill. The Bill was introduced by Health Minister Jim McGinty during the last parliamentary session and is scheduled for debate this afternoon. (ABC News, 15 August 2006)
 

25.07.06

Mail push angers MP
Euthanasia campaigners have been accused of a sleight of hand after they tried to enlist its members to send bulk email surveys to politicians. (Herald Sun,25 July 2006)

01.07.06

"Your views on dying with dignity?"

27.06.06

Doctors may encourage early deaths

DOCTORS may be inadvertently encouraging terminally ill patients to die sooner rather than later, Australian research has found.

The psychiatric study of more than 250 doctor-patient pairs found that the relationship between the two was an important factor in a patient's wish to hasten death.

The study, published in the journal Psychosomatics, was conducted with patients and doctors at Princess Alexandra Hospital and Mt Olivet Hospital in Brisbane.

See article by By Tamara McLean http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19605185-23289,00.html

08.06.06

Mother plans to sue: Please let my son die

THE mother of critical car crash victim Mark Leigep plans to sue the Royal Adelaide Hospital to let her son die, and for compensation.

Joanne Dunn said yesterday she had been wanting to stop the hospital from providing life-sustaining treatment.

 Source-  CARA JENKIN: The Advertiser

01.06.06

Coroner wants laws to protect the dying

Coroner Alastair Hope yesterday backed urgent calls for new laws covering palliative care and do-not- resuscitate orders when finding that a Perth grandmother who died at Bunbury's St John of God Hospital would still be alive if she had not been labelled wrongly as suffering from terminal cancer.

Source: SUELLEN JERRARD, The West Australian