Why doctors choose to participate in voluntary assisted dying in Queensland – perceived barriers and facilitators to participation in a willing cohort
Laura Ley Greaves1, Ben White1, Lindy Willmott1, Rachel Feeney1, ACHLR, QUT Brisbane 1ACHLR, QUT, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Objective: To investigate possible barriers and facilitators of participation in voluntary assisted dying by medical practitioners in Queensland.
Design: Semi structured interviews of 31 medical practitioners with no in-principle objection to voluntary assisted dying, during the implementation phase of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 in Queensland, Australia. Interviews conducted March 2022 – January 2023
Results: 31 interviews, 5 face-to-face and 16 conducted via Zoom. 14 General Practitioners and 17 specialists including 3 Palliative Care and 4 Oncologists. The main barriers identified were deviation from the traditional role of the doctor, including practitioner administration; many unknowns of a new practice including how it is going to work and who would provide; personal implications of a high emotional load and lack of renumeration; professional ramifications such as increased workload, significant time requirement and associated stigma of participating. Finally practical barriers to participating were identified as support to participate and information available. Facilitators to participation were based mainly in philosophical support for voluntary assisted dying and respecting a patient’s right to autonomy. These included a passion for voluntary assisted dying; a wish to continue care until the end, ‘not abandoning patients’ and voluntary assisted dying as an end of life procedure. Other facilitators included the possibility of a good death and flexibility of choosing provision.
Conclusion: Participation in voluntary assisted dying by medical practitioners is facilitated by in-principle support, however the practicalities of a new practice and ultimately how it will influence current practice pose barriers to participation.
Biography
Dr Laura Ley Greaves is a current PhD student at the Australia Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, doing a longitudinal study of medical practitioners’ experiences following the commencement of Voluntary Assisted Dying in Queensland. Her background is as a medical doctor and is also completing a Masters in Practical Ethics from the University of Oxford, England.