In certain cases, assisted suicide has been legal in Austria for the permanently seriously ill since 2022. The “Krone” reported on a Tyrolean woman’s ordeal and her search for doctors to support her. In the Tirol Kliniken, the largest hospital group in western Austria, doctors are not allowed to do that.
Since last year, people who are permanently seriously ill or terminally ill can draw up a decision. The “Krone” reported on the path of a Tyrolean to this decree. However, this requires confirmations from two doctors. The search ended in a glove for the woman. Only her longtime family doctor was by her side from the start. In an interview with “Krone”, he criticized the lack of contact points.
The patient herself stated “that many doctors support the possibility, but refuse to be guided”. Clinic employees are banned altogether.
“See treatment sequence in protection of life”
Christian Haring, medical director of the Tirol Kliniken, confirms this when asked by “Krone”. “We see our treatment mandate as protecting life. In that sense, the focus is on palliative care,” says Haring. Assisted suicide is not a medical job or a hospice and palliative care job. Therefore, all employees are prohibited from providing medical or nursing assisted suicide.
No country requirement
This is not a state requirement, according to health adviser LR Cornelia Hagele (ÖVP). However, no institution, no doctor can be obliged to do so. Regarding the criticism of the lack of contact points, Hagele points out that the Tyrolean patient representatives are also authorized to issue death guidelines.
In addition, Hagele states that “with the help of comprehensive palliative care and hospice care in all Tyrolean districts, not only those affected, but also their relatives are professionally accompanied during the dying process”.
Source: Krone
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