Submission to Senate Inquiry into the Dying with Dignity Bill 2014

This submission was made by the APS in 2014 to the Senate Inquiry into the exposure draft of the Medical Services (Dying with Dignity) Bill 2014.

The APS acknowledges that dealing with issues surrounding the purported right of a terminally ill person to request assistance from a medically qualified person to voluntarily terminate his or her life in a humane manner is complex and challenging, and needs to be examined from a number of perspectives, including psychological, ethical/moral, medical, legal, religious, sociological and political considerations.

The APS takes a position which neither endorses nor opposes physician assisted suicide. The APS position foregrounds the need to protect the wellbeing of the individual, as well as that of family members and professionals involved. In this submission, the APS highlights concerns with the exposure draft, from a psychological perspective.

Some additional issues, not raised in the draft, are also identified that warrant attention in the event that such a Bill is passed and the current law is changed.

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