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Medical services on demand. It's not so (The Age, letter to the editor)
25 August 2008
The new legislation introduced to decriminalise termination of pregnancy is not abortion on demand. A doctor's professional duty precludes simply acceding to a patient's demands for any medical procedure. The procedure must be in the best interests of the patient as determined in consultation with the medical practitioner.
The existing law requires informed consent, which is the voluntary agreement by the patient to a proposed health-care management approach. Such consent is considered to be valid only if proper and adequate information is conveyed to the patient about the proposed treatment, including all material risks, details of those risks that may particularly apply to an individual patient, likely benefits and alternative management options.
Where the legislation suggests regulating abortion like any other medical procedure, this recognises that medical services are governed by common law and legislation. Medical practitioners are regulated by the medical board. The board expects that "the investigations or treatment you provide or arrange should be based on your clinical judgement of the patient's needs and the likely effectiveness". No medical services are provided simply on demand.
Dr Doug Travis, president, AMA Victoria
Victorian Medical Directory
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