Increased barbiturate deaths: an unintended consequence of increased publicity for methods of do‐it‐yourself euthanasia?

BARBITURATES; EUTHANASIA; PUBLIC health; EUTHANASIA laws; MEDICAL care costs

Barbiturate-related deaths have increased in Australia in two major demographic groups: older people with physical health problems and younger people with mental health problems. The former are the intended beneficiaries of laws that allow euthanasia. The latter have been described as collateral damage from increased access to barbiturates, a class of drug often used for euthanasia, regardless of its legality or illegality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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