Bioethics expert Megan-Jane Johnstone, of Deakin University, has said there are reasonable concerns why health advocacy organisations should not take a definitive position on euthanasia.

Bioethics expert Megan-Jane Johnstone, of Deakin University, has said there are reasonable concerns why health advocacy organisations should not take adefinitive position on euthanasia. Professional organisations, representing both consumers and health workers, risk polarising the debate and alienating supporters. 

She was commenting on an announcement by Alzheimer’s Australia that voluntary euthanasia was now firmly on its agenda. It will release a discussion paper before its national conference in May where it will be debated again. Ms Johnstone said that a debate on euthanasia could undermine Alzheimer’s Australia’s central mission of lobbying for dementia care.

“The raison d’être of health advocacy organisations, contrary to right-to-die and right-to-life organisations, is that they’re there to advocate for good resources for their sectors,” she said. “I don’t think activist groups – either right-to-life or right-to-die lobbies – people that hold polarising views are going to bring to the public debate the balance and a measured consideration that this extraordinarily complex issue requires.” ~ Aged Care Insite, Apr/May

Expert urges caution before “jumping on euthanasia bandwagon”
Jared Yee
euthanasia