Skepticism in Salzburg about euthanasia law
People who are seriously ill or incurable can avail themselves of assisted suicide. A preparation for this is to be dispensed in pharmacies. For this purpose, those affected must “personally” draw up a death will. For this purpose, the decision-making ability and the free will of the patient must be determined by two doctors. If a doctor doubts this, a psychiatrist or psychologist must also be consulted. For the Catholic action, however, this circumstance should be prescribed more generally, i.e. the Salzburg chairwoman Elisabeth Mayer.
Details have to be clarified first
Also when do all the details first have to be clarified, the Salzburg oncologist and board member of the 3rd Medicine in the Landeshaus, Richard Greil: “For example, it should be clear that pragmatic aspects with which drug and how something can take place. In addition, the procedure must also flow into the study of medicine and, of course, into the training and further education of doctors and pharmacists. “
The death disposition of the person concerned should only be given after three months – with a life expectancy of only a few weeks, this period could be shortened to two weeks.
Expansion of hospice and palliative care
The new law is also intended to expand hospice and palliative care – the federal government will pay around 153 million euros over the next three years – money that is urgently needed in the Salzburg hospice movement, says Karl Schwaiger, chairman of the Salzburg hospice movement: “We need more teaching staff, more doctors, more nurses, support, especially in day hospices that provide medical care. “
Mayer also welcomes the subsidies for hospice and palliative care. The hospice care provides “allowances for life”, says the president of the Catholic Action Salzburg, Elisabeth Mayer. In many patients, the desire to commit suicide would not arise in the first place.
Legal refinements required
The new “Death Disposal Act” became necessary because the Constitutional Court lifted the ban on assisted suicide – but not the ban on active euthanasia. Here, the legislature should sharpen Mayer’s demands: “I would like the demarcation to killing on request to be drawn even more strongly.”
The proposals are now to be incorporated into the three-week review period for the Death Disposal Act – it is then to be passed in Parliament in December.