Townsville Bishop Tim Harris says society has been “let down” after essential drugs for end-of-life care, including morphine, were pulled from the market. Source: Townsville Bulletin.
This month the Medical Republic reported that in the past 12 months, at least six pain-relieving medications used by doctors and nurses in palliative care were removed from the market, including the oral liquid morphine.
The Australia New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine is pushing for a longer notification period for the withdrawal of essential palliative care drugs, and for the timely listing of substitutes on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
In a letter to Health Minister Mark Butler, Bishop Harris said without alternatives for drugs to assist with pain, many could be turning to doctor-assisted suicide.
He urged Mr Butler to “intervene and give dying Australians what they deserve, medications that maintain effective palliative care”.
“My understanding is that a number of drugs essential for palliative care to address the range of conditions and particular tolerances of patients have recently been withdrawn from the Australian market,” he said.
“These developments give me no confidence whatsoever that governments are serious about providing all Australians with access to effective palliative care, including the medications to help make that possible.”
Bishop Harris said he had seen first-hand the palliative care system, having both parents use the services. He argues that using a lethal drug to end life is “not the way to go”.
“We would argue strongly that they are real fears during the period of time where someone is suffering a terminal illness, and we believe that you don’t just bump somebody off,” he said.
“What you do is surround them with love and care. That means medical attention, access to family, good nursing and care and accompaniment.”
FULL STORY
Bishop of Townsville Tim Harris say more need to be done, as essential drugs removed from PBS (By Nikita McGuire, Townsville Bulletin)
