Euthanasia has been newly regulated in Austria for a year now. Since then, people who are seriously or terminally ill and want to make use of assisted suicide can draw up a so-called death will. By December 2022, a total of 111 wills had been drawn up, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Public Health reported at the request of APA. Criticism of the scheme recently came from the palliative care association, which calls for a change in the law.
Drawing up a death will does not automatically equate to providing the deadly drug. This is distributed in pharmacies. According to the ministry, 90 such preparations have been issued so far. The number of preparations used is currently “in the single digits”, as is the number of preparations returned.
Explanatory talks with doctors are mandatory
A ruling by the Constitutional Court (VfGH) made it necessary to reorganize assisted suicide, which was previously prohibited. According to the current Death Certificate, consultation with doctors is mandatory. Two doctors must independently confirm that the person wishing to die is capable of making decisions and willing to end their life voluntarily, one of whom must be trained in palliative medicine. The will is drawn up by a notary.
Association warns against too high demands on doctors
It is precisely these regulations that the palliative care society has to deal with. According to President Dietmar Weixler, a major problem is that palliative care facilities are unable to provide the requested comprehensive care and support services for people with serious illnesses to the desired extent due to a lack of resources and at the same time are overwhelmed by a cause for which they involved, do not feel responsible at all in their self-understanding.” This refers to the role of palliative care physicians as “assisted suicide relievers.”
Source: Krone
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