A survey of GPs medical decision making in end-of-life situations has been widely covered in the New Zealand media.
The research, published today in the New Zealand Medical Journal, surveyed 650 GPs, specifically regarding the last death at which they were the attending doctor.
Of the 359 GPs who reported making end-of-life medical decisions, 4.5 per cent (a total of 16 GPs) reported prescribing, supplying or administering a drug with the explicit purpose of hastening the end of life.
You can read more about the study, including expert commentary, here.
National media coverage of the research includes:
NewstalkZB: Doctors helping terminal patients die: survey
RadioLIVE: Survey reveals euthanasia already happening
Nelson Mail: Survey shows doctors and nurses more involved in ‘end-of-life’ decisions
Stuff.co.nz: Doctors and nurses more involved in patients’ ‘end-of-life’ decisions – study
NZ City News: Many doctors admit to helping patients die
Radio New Zealand: GPs admit helping to hasten patient deaths
New Zealand Herald: GPs admit actions to shorten life
3 News: Doctors and nurses helping patients die, despite the law – study
Manawatu Standard: Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway urges euthanasia discussion