Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Healthcare Provision and Healthcare Professionals: Discussion

Photo of Fiona O'LoughlinFiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)
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I thank Dr. Twomey. If I may turn to Dr. O'Shea and Dr. Lyne, I know Dr. O'Shea to be a very compassionate and understanding GP in my town of Newbridge.

One of the areas Dr. Twomey touched on, and which we all agree on, is the importance of palliative care. He mentioned a concern that less resources might go to palliative care if assisted dying were to come in.

I am interested in a response to that. While we have a lot to go through in this committee, if recommendations were made and assisted dying introduced in Ireland, how long would it take to establish service provision? We also mentioned the slippery slope. How would such a service be effectively audited in a way that would allay concerns? I appreciate the practicalities in the witnesses' statement. From what we have heard so far the doctors see it operating in a similar way to the Oregon model.