Former SANFL footballer Peter Johnston pleads for SA politicians to legalise euthanasia after watching his mum’s suffering

Peter Johnston is a tough former SANFL footballer – but his mum’s suffering before her death last month shook him to the core. Now he has a blunt message for our politicians.

Peter Johnston is calling for euthanasia laws in SA after watching his 89-year-old mother’s terrible suffering in the last 10 days of her life. Picture: Russell Millard/The Advertiser

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A former SANFL footballer who watched his elderly mother die over 10 days in a semiconscious state while pleading with doctors and family to end her life says the state must introduce voluntary assisted euthanasia laws.

State Parliament will in October receive a long-awaited report from the End of Life Choices Committee on its investigation into voluntary assisted euthanasia laws, particularly those in Victoria.

“The last two days of mum’s life she looked unrecognisable – gaunt, bright yellow from liver malfunction and the ‘death gurgling’ coming from fluid in her lungs,” said Peter Johnston, 62, executive director of the Association of Independently Owned Financial Professionals.

Mr Johnston played 87 games for Glenelg and South Adelaide from 1976 until 1981.

Peter Johnston with his mum Cynthia Johnston in the late 1980s

“It is a disgrace that humans are put through this humiliation,” he said after burying his 89-year-old mother Cynthia Johnston last Wednesday.

Mrs Johnston, from Glenelg, died a week earlier at an aged care facility in Adelaide after enduring five months of advanced-stage cancer.

“Sixteen days before her death, mum pleaded to be terminated to her doctor and our family members supported her request,” Mr Johnston said.

“The doctor refused and explained that morphine can only be used for pain relief, not termination.”

It is an offence under SA law to assist in a suicide or a suicide attempt. It is not in Victoria, and soon will be permitted in WA in limited circumstances.

Johnston said a palliative care team of doctors and nurses were hamstrung by SA’s lack of euthanasia laws and did all they could to support his mother using heavy pain relief.

But despite this, he said she eventually died from starvation and dehydration and he’s not convinced she did not suffer in her final moments.

“We need all politicians to visit an aged care facility to witness first-hand what is going on and why we need to revisit the euthanasia debate. Surely two doctors in consultation with family members and the patient should provide sufficient governance to satisfy most?”

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr Chris Moy.

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr Chris Moy said SA doctors were protected by law to provide end of life medication to control a dying patient’s pain and suffering, even if that medication might hasten the patient’s death.

But he said doctors cannot give medication with the specific intention to end a patient’s life.

“It is critical to make sure doctors know they are protected by good legislation and that patients and their families are also educated about what happens when someone dies, because it can be extremely distressing if they do not understand what is happening to their loved one,’’ said Dr Moy, also chairman of the AMA’s Ethics and Medico-legal Committee.

In January, the Sunday Mail’s Your Say SA survey found 84.6 per cent of respondents supported voluntary euthanasia with written consent – 8.1 per cent were opposed and 7.3 per cent unsure.