‘Living wishes are not dying wishes’
For Dr Ian GwynneRobson, medical director of Te Omanga Hospice in Lower Hutt, the idea of having to kill someone flies in the face of the medical commandment "first, do no harm’’.
That’s why, since the End of Life Choice Bill was introduced, he has been a vocal opponent.
He says he is acting as a voice of the patients whom the legislation is most likely to affect.
‘‘[When] you’re given a diagnosis of terminal illness, you’re a vulnerable person . . . All patients referred to me are vulnerable, and it’s my job to advocate for those patients and for their protection.
‘‘Those people are sick, they clearly have other priorities.’’
Gwynne-Robson has heard plenty of momentary requests to die. ‘‘It’s not uncommon for a patient to say, ‘If I had a gun I would shoot myself,’ or ‘Doctor, can you give me pill,’ and the correct response to that, I think, is to ask what the problem is and explore that.
‘‘The vast percentage of the time you start to address the issue of concern and that request disappears.’’
His stance is not unusual, with other palliative care heads having already spoken out in an attempt to paint a picture of how palliative care can already provide a painless death.
‘‘There’s no need for a change in the law, because the existing legal framework for patient autonomy is enormous already. Patients can make all of those decisions about not prolonging their lives,’’ Gwynne-Robson says.
Hospice New Zealand has for years voiced its dismay at attempts to legalise assisted dying in any form. ‘‘Nor do we consider that a change in the law would be in the best interests of the people cared for by hospice staff,’’ it said in a statement.
’HARD CASES MAKE BAD LAW’
The emotive and ‘‘hard’’ nature of euthanasia cases make it nearimpossible to craft a fitting law, he says, and the hardest are already being heard out in the courts.
He is sympathetic to the stories of those whose loved ones deteriorated to a point where death was sought, but it has never swayed him.
"My response to those stories is . . . I wish I could have got in there and helped. Euthanasia is the wrong option. They need support, that’s the proper, compassionate, dignified response.’’
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
National MP Maggie Barry has drafted a counter-bill of sorts to the End of Life Choice Bill, with a focus on improving palliative care.
The Access to End of Life Palliative Care Bill would amend two existing acts to place obligations on the minister of health to ensure that the highest possible service standards for the provision of care are in place.
It would also place obligations on district health boards to develop and implement strategies to provide end-of-life care to all those who need it, including those in remote or isolated areas.
‘‘There are too many distressing reports of people struggling to cope with chronic pain,’’ Barry said, after the bill was drawn earlier this year. ‘‘This is why I have drafted this bill, after extensive consultation with palliative care experts and medical practitioners, as well as people whose loved ones have experienced pain and distress.’’
Gwynne-Robson says any further resources and funding will be welcomed by the sector, particularly as the population ages.
‘‘Dying is happening later, and it’s getting more complex.’’