Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The right of a patient to refuse treatment, which in a number of instances will lead to a more painful death, is an issue. Everybody has personal experiences and knowledge of such things. Medication for pain is a key part of palliative care for many people. The removal of that particular aspect would cause a person more pain and distress. If we respect the right to refuse treatment as an absolute, how is there not an automatic right to choice in such circumstances? Is that a unanimous view of people involved in palliative care? A number of professionals in the palliative care area who I have known over many years indicate a different view from the one Dr. McQuillan is advocating.