In June 2010 Justice Kouralis of the South Australian Supreme Court made a judicial decision handing down a landmark in the development of end-of-life discussions: he reconfirmed the right of a competent person to refuse medical treatment and to refuse food and fluid. He indicated that carers not only must abide by such decision, but do have a duty to provide oral hygiene to palliate pain and discomfort in such cases.
In an article by Rodney Syme a description and an analysis of the decision can be read by clicking here.