Australian Medical Association of Queensland calls for inexperienced doctors to be exempt from VAD

Queensland’s leading medical association wants doctors to complete specialist training and have had at least five years’ experience before taking part in the VAD scheme.

Doctors who are early in their career need to be exempt from the voluntary assisted dying scheme, the Australian Medical Association of Queensland has warned.

Under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 currently before parliament, doctors still training to become specialists could be requested to make critical decisions about patients’ lives.

AMAQ believes doctors must have completed their specialist training and had at least five years’ experience to have the skills and knowledge to take part in the VAD scheme.

“While our doctors in training are outstanding future specialists, we do not want to leave them in a position to make decisions that may be beyond their current level of experience,” AMAQ Vice President Dr Bav Manoharan, himself a doctor in training, said on Wednesday.

Australian Medical Association of Queensland vice president Dr. Bav Manoharan. Picture: Attila Csaszar

“The Victorian and Western Australian VAD schemes limit eligibility to doctors who have practised for at least five years after completing a fellowship and who have relevant experience in treating or managing the medical condition of the patient.

“We believe that the same provisions should apply in Queensland. We surveyed our members and they were clear — almost 90 per cent said doctors in training should be exempt from the VAD scheme, and 91 per cent said the eligibility requirements should match those of Victoria and Western Australia.

“This is particularly important as the Queensland legislation allows patients with an expected 12 months left to live to request VAD, while the other states require a six month life expectancy.

“Twelve months is a big call when asking a doctor to make a decision.

“It is vital that all doctors making these decisions have the appropriate experience.

“However, we acknowledge that rural and remote Queensland has very unique needs and rural generalists in those areas are special cases.

“They are often the sole providers of medical care for entire communities much earlier in their careers than their metropolitan counterparts and guidelines should be included to allow them to participate in the scheme.

“Our survey responders were from all specialties and ages, socially conservative and progressive alike.

“They are people who see patients getting sick and dying, and want only the best for their patients and their colleagues.

“We hope the Queensland parliament will put these protections in place for patients and doctors alike.”