Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation
Abstract Background In June 2019, the Australian state of Victoria joined the growing number of jurisdictions around the world to have legalised some form of voluntary assisted dying. A discourse of safety was prominent during the implementation of the Victorian legislation. Main text In this paper,...
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doaj-b13dd86fe41c47d7a3a16da461b4d4792020-11-25T03:37:06ZengBMCBMC Medical Ethics1472-69392020-05-0121111010.1186/s12910-020-00483-5Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislationRosalind McDougall0Bridget Pratt1Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of MelbourneCentre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of MelbourneAbstract Background In June 2019, the Australian state of Victoria joined the growing number of jurisdictions around the world to have legalised some form of voluntary assisted dying. A discourse of safety was prominent during the implementation of the Victorian legislation. Main text In this paper, we analyse the ethical relationship between legislative “safeguards” and equal access. Drawing primarily on Ruger’s model of equal access to health care services, we analyse the Victorian approach to voluntary assisted dying in terms of four dimensions: horizontal equity, patient agency, high quality care, and supportive social norms. We argue that some provisions framed as safeguards in the legislation create significant barriers to equal access for eligible patients. Conclusions While safety is undoubtedly ethically important, we caution against an overemphasis on safeguarding in voluntary assisted dying legislation given the implications for equal access.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12910-020-00483-5Voluntary assisted dyingMedical assistance in dyingEqual accessEquity |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rosalind McDougall Bridget Pratt |
spellingShingle |
Rosalind McDougall Bridget Pratt Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation BMC Medical Ethics Voluntary assisted dying Medical assistance in dying Equal access Equity |
author_facet |
Rosalind McDougall Bridget Pratt |
author_sort |
Rosalind McDougall |
title |
Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
title_short |
Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
title_full |
Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
title_fullStr |
Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Too much safety? Safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
title_sort |
too much safety? safeguards and equal access in the context of voluntary assisted dying legislation |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Medical Ethics |
issn |
1472-6939 |
publishDate |
2020-05-01 |
description |
Abstract Background In June 2019, the Australian state of Victoria joined the growing number of jurisdictions around the world to have legalised some form of voluntary assisted dying. A discourse of safety was prominent during the implementation of the Victorian legislation. Main text In this paper, we analyse the ethical relationship between legislative “safeguards” and equal access. Drawing primarily on Ruger’s model of equal access to health care services, we analyse the Victorian approach to voluntary assisted dying in terms of four dimensions: horizontal equity, patient agency, high quality care, and supportive social norms. We argue that some provisions framed as safeguards in the legislation create significant barriers to equal access for eligible patients. Conclusions While safety is undoubtedly ethically important, we caution against an overemphasis on safeguarding in voluntary assisted dying legislation given the implications for equal access. |
topic |
Voluntary assisted dying Medical assistance in dying Equal access Equity |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12910-020-00483-5 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT rosalindmcdougall toomuchsafetysafeguardsandequalaccessinthecontextofvoluntaryassisteddyinglegislation AT bridgetpratt toomuchsafetysafeguardsandequalaccessinthecontextofvoluntaryassisteddyinglegislation |
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