[tri-med] Re-thinking Life Sustaining Measures

Is there anyone out there up for some advocacy and rabble rousing.
Part of the stuff that I try to do is keep an eye on the state of the nation 
with regards to our kids. Some time back a doctor from the Queensland 
University wrote a discussion paper on Re-thinking Life Sustaining Measures. 
This was to do with a review by the Queensland Law Reform Commission. They are 
re-thinking the law in relation to this area. Amongst other things it relates 
to the withdrawal of feeding tubes and ventilation in what doctors deem 
"hopeless" cases and where they feel that there is no quality of life. 
As usual I put my 2 cents worth into the pot, it was probably only worth 1/2 
cent but hey I am usually game. At the time I was particularly upset about Luke 
Winston-Jones' needless death. 

I didn't think much about it, even though the author wrote back and thanked me 
for a different perspective on the issue. However, it must have made a little 
bit of an impression because I have been asked to re-submit my thoughts to the 
Queensland Law Reform Commission. So I thought I would throw the issue to you 
guys and invite you to read the discussion paper and either make your own 
submission or add your 2 cents (10 would be better) to my own thoughts. I am an 
equal opportunity person so feel free to send me anti as well as pro thoughts. 
Just don't flame on the list - OK?? It is an emotive issue and I just remind 
everyone ahead of time to remember the list policy of respecting everyones 
right to have their own opinion even if its different to our own.

This is the web site for the discussion paper
http://www.law.qut.edu.au/files/QUT_LifeSustainingIssuesPaper.pdf
its a pdf document - long but very interesting

and here is the original debate that started me reading Ben White's work
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2781

and here is a copy of the letter that he has sent me regarding the review


My name is Lindy Willmott and I am an academic with the Law Faculty at QUT. 
During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, I and another academic who was on staff 
at QUT, Dr Ben White, reviewed the law in Queensland that governs withholding 
and withdrawing life-sustaining measures.  

 

As a result of that review, we wrote an Issues Paper, ?Rethinking 
Life-Sustaining Measures: Questions for Queensland?, and forwarded it to 
individuals and organisations who we thought might be interested in this area 
of the law.

 

I am writing to you now as you provided a submission to us about one or more of 
the topics raised in the Issues Paper.  

 

After releasing the Paper, we liaised with many individuals and organisations 
including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, disability advocacy 
groups, people affected by disability, academics and others to obtain as great 
a cross-section of views as possible within the budgetary constraints of our 
project.

 

At the time that the Issues Paper was written and consultation undertaken, we 
had planned to write a final report.  It was contemplated that the report would 
provide feedback on the views expressed to us during the consultation period as 
well as making any recommendations for reform that seemed necessary as a result 
of the review and consultation process.  

 

In 2005, the then Attorney-General, the Honourable Linda Lavarch asked the 
Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC) to review many aspects of the 
guardianship and administration regime.  A specific area that the Attorney 
asked the QLRC to review is ?the law relating to the withholding and withdrawal 
of life-sustaining measures?.  That review will consider the topics referred to 
in the Issues Paper.  The QLRC has been provided with a copy of the Paper and 
it is hoped that the research conducted will assist the QLRC in its review.

 

There are two reasons for this letter.  The first is to advise you of the 
status of the Rethinking Life-Sustaining Measures project and to inform you 
about the current review of the QLRC.  The intention of the Rethinking 
Life-Sustaining Measures project was to encourage a reconsideration of the law 
contained in the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 and the Guardianship and 
Administration Act 2000 as they relate to the withholding and withdrawal of 
life-sustaining medical treatment.  As this specific matter is now under 
investigation by the QLRC, this objective has been achieved.  Accordingly, a 
final Report will not be prepared by us as part of this project.

 

The second reason for this letter is to urge you to provide the comments that 
you previously gave to us, directly to the QLRC when it conducts its review of 
this area of the law.  Its contact details are as follows:

 

 

Email:              qlrcguardianship@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Post:                Queensland Law Reform Commission

PO Box 13312

George Street Post Shop

Brisbane QLD 4003

 

To date in its review, the QLRC has taken active steps to seek public input and 
I am confident that this consultative approach will continue when it reviews 
the law relating to the withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. 
   

 

Thank you for your interest in and contributing to the Rethinking 
Life-Sustaining Measures project.



Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
                                            -- Josh Billings

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (12 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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