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Australian voluntary euthanasia law is overturned

BMJ 1997; 314 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7086.993c (Published 05 April 1997) Cite this as: BMJ 1997;314:993
  1. Christopher Zinn
  1. Sydney

    Australian doctors on both sides of the ethical divide have joined forces to call for an increase in government funding for palliative care after the world's first voluntary euthanasia law was overturned by parliament last week.

    The Australian Medical Association welcomed the passing of the federal private member's bill that threw out the Northern Territory's historic Rights of the Terminally Ill Act but said that governments should take services for dying people more seriously. The association's president, Dr Keith Wollard, said: “No matter what our views on euthanasia, we must now work together to ensure more is done for the dying patient.”

    The Coalition for Voluntary Euthanasia called the decision a “triumph for doctors over patients” but backed the call for better palliative …

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