In reply: We thank Dunne and Woodruff for comments on our Perspectives article.1 Both colleagues firmly expressed their opinions. However, we find it telling that neither mentioned consideration of their patients’ opinions and both referred to euthanasia, not voluntary euthanasia (VE), which was the subject of our article.
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- 1. Willoughby JO, Marr RG, Wendell-Smith CP; Doctors for Voluntary Euthanasia Choice. Doctors in support of law reform for voluntary euthanasia. Med J Aust 2013; 198: 190. <MJA full text>
- 2. Paice JA, Muir JC, Shott S. Palliative care at the end of life: comparing quality in diverse settings. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2004; 21: 19-27.
- 3. Oregon Public Health Division. Death with Dignity Act. http://public.health.oregon.gov/Provider PartnerResources/EvaluationResearch/DeathwithDignityAct/Pages/index.aspx (accessed Apr 2013).
- 4. Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Brinkman-Stoppelenburg A, Penning C, et al. Trends in end-of-life practices before and after the enactment of the euthanasia law in the Netherlands from 1990 to 2010: a repeated cross-sectional survey. Lancet 2012; 380: 908-915.
- 5. Kuhse H, Singer P, Baume P, et al. End-of-life decisions in Australian medical practice. Med J Aust 1997; 166: 191-196. <MJA full text>
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