Queensland doctors have signed a joint letter to MPs over Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation

A number of Queensland doctors have signed a letter to every state MP warning of the dangers of Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation due to be debated this week.

Nineteen leading Queensland doctors have signed a joint letter to every state MP warning of “unacceptable risks” in proposed euthanasia laws to be debated this week in parliament.

Their concerns include that inexperienced doctors will have the power to help people die.

The doctors, with a combined more than 700 years of practise treating more than 3.5 million patients and including former Australian Medical Association of Queensland presidents, have written to the state’s 93 MPs urging them to heed the concerns of medical professionals.

They say the proposed Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation is inferior to interstate laws in several fundamental ways.

These include that co-ordinating and consulting doctors are not required to have any expertise in patients’ terminal conditions, or in end-of-life care.

“Doctors who have no or very little experience in that area of medical practice will decide on life expectancy, the counselling and care of the vulnerable patients and the assessment of competence (to decide on euthanasia),” the 19 medicos say in the letter.

“This is contrary to best medical practice and it presumes that the medical practitioner will always act appropriately with knowledge commensurate with their decision-making power.

Former AMAQ president Dr Zelle Hodge signed the letter, believing there are risks in the proposed legislation.

“This does not provide appropriate protection for the vulnerable with a terminal illness because it does not ensure that a patient has been adequately informed about possible treatments and palliative care options.”

The doctors say people will be able to use the VAD laws if given 12 months to live, but one-year life expectancy forecasts are “too inaccurate”.

They also say the proposed laws will override “conscientious objection” by hospitals, nursing homes and medical staff who oppose euthanasia, but would be forced to allow it to occur in their institutions by handing power to VAD doctors.

The doctors also say inadequate palliative care in Queensland gives the terminally ill less choice when it comes to deciding whether to live or die.

“Whether individuals are opposed to or supportive of VAD laws, there are unacceptable risks in the current proposed legislation,” said Dr Zelle Hodge, a former AMAQ president and one of the doctors to sign the letter.

“If the government is intent on passing this law it must listen to health professionals about their concerns and protect some of the most vulnerable Queenslanders.”

Dr Hodge said keeping Queenslanders safe had been the mantra for politicians since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

“If the current legislation passed the parliament without changes, the parliament would be dropping the ball on protecting vulnerable Queenslanders,” she said.

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Originally published as Queensland doctors have signed a joint letter to MPs over Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation