A Personal Experience with Suffering Patients: Bringing Home the Assisted Dying Debate

Abstract

This manuscript details the author’s experiences with the assisted dying debate in Australia. As a practiced physician and end-of-life counsellor, Dr Rodney Syme speaks about his commitment to respecting the dignity and autonomy of his patients. He advocates for the de-criminalisation of assisted dying, arguing that existing Australian legislation is based upon outdated perspectives, not adequately informed by the voices of suffering patients. Ultimately, this manuscript speaks to our universal humanity, requesting that we privilege a patient’s right to control their death over our blind preference for the preservation of a painful life.