11th October 2016
“The public is ready for assisted dying long before politicians are. This is one area of law reform where the community is leading the way and politicians should follow.”
This is the view of international end-of-life law scholar Professor Jocelyn Downie from Dalhousie University, Canada, who will give the annual QUT Australian Centre for Health Law Research Public Lecture at QUT Gardens Point on October 19.
Professor Downie is available for interview from 12pm on Monday, October 17 to Friday, October 30, 2016.
Professor Downie was a member of the pro bono legal team in the landmark Canadian case of Carter v Canada (Attorney-General), which paved the way for legalisation of assisted dying in Canada that came into effect in June this year.
In her lecture, The Legalisation of Medical Assistance in Dying - Lessons from Canada, Professor Downie will urge that there’s no need for Australia to reinvent the wheel when formulating a regulatory framework for medical assistance in dying.
“The process of actually drafting the law can be extremely tricky in trying to ensure that all the people who should have access to assisted dying can have access," Professor Downie said.
“Lots of people who have gone down this path ahead of Australia — talk to them and you can have the newest, best, assisted dying law in the world.”
Professor Downie will launch End of Life Law in Australia, the country’s only website that comprehensively describes the laws about medical decision-making at the end-of-life in each state and territory.
“The site provides information for medical professionals, patients and families about Australian laws on death, dying and decision-making, as well as legal rights and responsibilities,” Professor Ben White, director of the QUT Australian Centre for Health Law Research, said.
Professor Downie is available for interview from 12pm on Monday, October 17 to Friday, October 30, 2016.
Professor Downie was a member of the pro bono legal team in the landmark Canadian case of Carter v Canada (Attorney-General), which paved the way for legalisation of assisted dying in Canada that came into effect in June this year.
In her lecture, The Legalisation of Medical Assistance in Dying - Lessons from Canada, Professor Downie will urge that there’s no need for Australia to reinvent the wheel when formulating a regulatory framework for medical assistance in dying.
“The process of actually drafting the law can be extremely tricky in trying to ensure that all the people who should have access to assisted dying can have access," Professor Downie said.
“Lots of people who have gone down this path ahead of Australia — talk to them and you can have the newest, best, assisted dying law in the world.”
Professor Downie will launch End of Life Law in Australia, the country’s only website that comprehensively describes the laws about medical decision-making at the end-of-life in each state and territory.
“The site provides information for medical professionals, patients and families about Australian laws on death, dying and decision-making, as well as legal rights and responsibilities,” Professor Ben White, director of the QUT Australian Centre for Health Law Research, said.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT Media, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
