Doctor: Let courts give final ruling on assisted euthanasia

DECISIONS about assisted dying could be made by the courts rather than doctors, argues the president of the Gold Coast Medical Association.

Psychiatrist Dr Philip Morris told the inquiry into aged care, end-of-life and palliative care and voluntary assisted dying he was generally “not a euthanasia advocate”.

But he said rulings should be “a judicial decision” through magistrates courts or the Queensland Administrative and Civil Tribunal (QCAT) – particularly in complex cases.

Dr Morris (pictured) said “most of us as doctors don’t like the idea of participating in the death of a patient”, referring to the Hippocratic Oath.

He also revealed the association was “just as divided as the general community” regarding euthanasia.

In response to Dr Morris’ submission, deputy chair Mark McArdle aired concerns the courts “wouldn’t resolve the matter (euthanasia) in a timely manner”.

Mr McArdle added that QCAT was already stretched and “underfunded”, while speaking at the public hearing at Southport Sharks.

In the wake of the shock shutdown and exodus of Earle Haven aged care facility in July, divisive doctor Philip Nitschke told the Bulletin the Gold Coast had become the euthanasia hub of Australia, in part because retirees feared being “trapped” in nursing homes.

The same month, Dr Nitschke unveiled his Sarco ‘suicide pod’, which he claimed “will deliver a peaceful, elegant, almost-euphoric” death.