Document 0361 DOCN M9590361 TI Assisted suicide, euthanasia, AIDS & the law. DT 9509 AU Magnusson RS; Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne. SO Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:131 (unnumbered abstract). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291738 AB Assisted suicide and euthanasia are currently the subject of vigorous community debate. Polls reveal a high level of public support for law reform, and a number of doctors have recently publicly admitted to hastening death. Issues of assisted suicide and euthanasia are particularly relevant within the HIV community, particularly among gay men with AIDS, many of whom are politically aware, articulate, and wish to retain control over their disease process. Nevertheless, the 'bedside' issues which arise when patients with AIDS wish to die are extremely difficult and painful. Health care professionals working in HIV must face these issues, and resolve any ethical dilemmas they perceive, bearing in mind the operation of the law in their jurisdiction. In this short paper I will present an anecdote drawn from my research-in-progress on euthanasia within the HIV community, which will touch on some of the dilemmas health care professionals face, as well as the considerable amount of emotion the issue of euthanasia is capable of generating. Thereafter I will briefly mention several legal principles which control how the law looks at euthanasia. DE *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PSYCHOLOGY/THERAPY Attitude to Death Australia Euthanasia/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD/PSYCHOLOGY Homosexuality, Male/PSYCHOLOGY Human Male Physician's Role Right to Die/LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD Suicide, Assisted/*LEGISLATION & JURISPRUD MEETING ABSTRACT SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).