Throughout the jurisdictions that have legalised ‘assisted dying’ in the US and Europe, annual reports of the practice are accessible online through the relevant government agencies. These reports give policy makers, medical practitioners and the wider public important information about the practice of assisted suicide and/or euthanasia each year.
This adds a layer of accountability to the process, and allows for data analysis and review. It also shows if any problematic patterns are emerging; such as a spike in those from one geographical area requesting it, or a particular at-risk demographic becoming over-represented. Currently under the End of Life Choice Act, no such reporting is required.
This amendment to the End of Life Choice Act would require detailed, annual, public reporting to correct this glaring and dangerous oversight.
This report should include the following information:
Total number of euthanasia or assisted suicide requests
Total number of euthanasia deaths and total number of assisted suicide deaths
Number of assisted suicide prescriptions written vs number of doses actually used
Total number of requests that were declined, and the reason(s) why
Declined patient characteristics, including:
gender,
age,
ethnicity,
city/town and suburb of residence,
end of life care (eg. Hospice, hospital, community, none, etc.),
duration of the relationship with the declining medical practitioner
underlying illness (if any),
was the patient referred for psychological evaluation,
whether the method requested was assisted suicide, euthanasia
whether family members were informed,
previous family incidences of assisted suicide or euthanasia, and duration since,
reason(s) for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide
Total number of requests that were approved in this annual period
Total number of people still living, who were approved more than 6 months ago, 12 months ago, 2 years ago, 3 years ago, 4 years ago, 5 years ago or more (provide exact duration for each),
Approved patient characteristics, including:
gender,
age,
ethnicity,
city/town and suburb of residence,
end of life care (eg. Hospice, hospital, community, none, etc.),
duration of the relationship with the approving medical practitioner
duration between intial request and death by euthanasia or assisted suicide
underlying illness and prognosis,
was the patient referred for psychological evaluation,
location where the patient died (eg. home, hospital, private practice, etc),
complications arising from administering or ingesting of the lethal dose,
whether the method used was assisted suicide, euthanasia, or the patient died naturally,
whether family members were informed,
previous family incidences of assisted suicide or euthanasia, and duration since,
type of pharmaceuticals prescribed and/or administered
duration of time from administration/ingestion to death,
reason(s) for requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide,
did the patient die during this annual reporting period, (if not, include in next reporting period until death of patient)
if the approving or prescribing practitioner was present at the time of death
whether any practitioner was present at the time of death
were independent witnesses present at time of death, and how many
Total number of practitioners participating, their working region(s), and how many requests each processed, approved and declined
Total number and details of any complaints made (verbal and written), about the promotion and/or practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide, from patients, family members, healthcare workers, or others.
Amend the End of Life Choice Act: Sign the Petition
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