Queensland Consolidated Acts

CRIMINAL CODE 1899 - SECT 282A

282A Palliative care

(1) A person is not criminally responsible for providing palliative care to another person if—

(a) the person provides the palliative care in good faith and with reasonable care and skill; and

(b) the provision of the palliative care is reasonable, having regard to the other person’s state at the time and all the circumstances of the case; and

(c) the person is a doctor or, if the person is not a doctor, the palliative care is ordered by a doctor who confirms the order in writing.

(2) Subsection (1) applies even if an incidental effect of providing the palliative care is to hasten the other person’s death.

(3) However, nothing in this section authorises, justifies or excuses—

(a) an act done or omission made with intent to kill another person; or

(b) aiding another person to kill himself or herself.

(4) To remove any doubt, it is declared that the provision of the palliative care is reasonable only if it is reasonable in the context of good medical practice.

(5) In this section—

"good medical practice" means good medical practice for the medical profession in Australia having regard to—

(a) the recognised medical standards, practices and procedures of the medical profession in Australia; and

(b) the recognised ethical standards of the medical profession in Australia.

"palliative care" means care, whether by doing an act or making an omission, directed at maintaining or improving the comfort of a person who is, or would otherwise be, subject to pain and suffering.