The government has been urged by an Oireachtas committee to legalise assisted suicide under certain, controlled conditions.
A 96-page report with 38 recommendations was released this afternoon by the Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, reports RTE.
Increasing financing for palliative care, creating an impartial agency to review all applications for assisted dying, and doing research on health disparities and economic disadvantage with an emphasis on “the question of people feeling a burden” are of these.
The study was released after months of hearings from interested parties and experts, some of whom provided details about assisted dying practices in the US state of Oregon as well as in Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, the Netherlands, and Canada, reports RTE.
Of the 14 members of the committee, nine are in favour of the suggestions.
A minority report with three opposing opinions has been released. Two committee members were not present and one abstained from the final decision, reports RTE.
If the bill were to be introduced, it would mostly affect those who have been diagnosed with a progressive, advanced, incurable, irreversible, or fatal medical condition that will take their life within six months.
For neurodegenerative diseases, a 12-month time restriction is recommended, along with the requirement that the sickness must be producing pain that cannot be alleviated in a way that the affected person considers bearable.
A conscientious objection provision need to be available to every medical professional, including nurses and doctors, reports RTE.
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