at the hands of a person who is known as a practised abortionist,
or where the operation has been done by violence and against the
will of the subject. These, however, are questions of morality upon
which varying opinions may be held, and upon which I do not desire
to be taken as expressing a final opinion."

This legal opinion has not been challenged, though it has been
criticised.

Although the Committee appreciates the difficulties under which the
police are working, the evidence of other witnesses has led them to
agree that any extension in the direction of compulsory notification to
the police before death, and against the patient's wish, is open to
serious objections and is therefore not advisable.

Regarding the second issue, there is general agreement that there is a
duty on the doctor to assist the police, and that this should be done
by withholding a certificate of death and informing the Coroner.

The position has been more clearly defined as a result of a recent
amendment to section 41 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, as
contained in section 12 of the Statutes Amendment Act, 1936:--

"12. (1) On the death of any person who has been attended during
his last illness by a registered medical practitioner, that
practitioner shall forthwith sign and deliver to the Registrar of
the district in which the death occurred a certificate, on the
printed form to be supplied for that purpose by the
Registrar-General, stating to the best of his knowledge and belief
the causes of death, both primary and secondary, the duration of
the last illness of the deceased, the date on which he last saw the
deceased alive, and such other particulars as may be required by
the Registrar-General, and the particulars stated therein shall be
entered in the register together with the name of the certifying
medical practitioner.

"(2) The medical practitioner shall at the same time sign and
deliver to the undertaker or other person having charge of the
burial a notice on the printed form to be supplied for that purpose
by the Registrar-General to the effect that he has furnished a
certificate under the last preceding subsection to the Registrar.

"(3) In any case where, in the opinion of the medical practitioner,
the death has occurred under any circumstances of suspicion, the
practitioner shall forthwith report the case to the