WA doctors’ last chance to change euthanasia laws

Western Australian doctors have had their last chance to convince a parliamentary committee about whether WA’s euthanasia laws should change.

The state’s peak medical body says WA shouldn’t rush a decision with doctors divided over the controversial issue.

The Australian Medical Association says many doctors will refuse administering a lethal dose, suggesting the parliamentary committee investigate if a few specially trained ones or even a third party would be better suited.

Doctors are fearful changing our laws will ‘normalise’ suicide in an age where mental illness is on the rise.

It’s a complex and heated debate, taking centre stage last week when 104-year-old West Australian David Goodall travelled to Switzerland to end his own life.

Perth doctor Alida Lancee is also being investigated by the medical watchdog for administering a lethal injection to a patient in 2011.

The committee will hand it’s report to parliament in August after listening to nine months of evidence from experts all over the world.