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Healthcare in Australia

Gene Patenting and the Dr. Death Issue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

SALLY DALTON-BROWN
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Abstract:

No single issue has dominated health practitioners’ ethical debates in 2014 in Australia, but a controversial decision on gene patenting and the media focus on “Dr. Death,” euthanasia campaigner Dr. Philip Nitschke, have given new life to these two familiar (and global) debates. Currently a dying with dignity bill, drafted by the Australian Green Party, is under examination. The Senate inquiry into the bill received more than 663 submissions, with 57% opposed and 43% in support of the bill, which has now been referred to a Senate committee. Will this be another of Australia’s failed attempts to legalize euthanasia? The trial of Dr. Nitschke begins on November 10, 2014.

Keywords

gene patentingPhilip Nitschkeeuthanasiadying with dignityAustralian Green Party
Type
Special Section: Bioethics Beyond Borders
Information
Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , July 2016 , pp. 414 - 420
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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References

Notes

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