Session Profile: Margit Sutrop
15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
2025-04-23
Political Position
The most salient issue is the draft legislation concerning the patient’s end-of-life advance directive, which the speaker strongly supports on behalf of the Reform Party, stressing that it is entirely in the patient’s best interests. This political stance is value-based, emphasizing the protection of patient autonomy and a necessary shift away from paternalistic medicine. The speaker stresses that the bill aims to grant the patient control over their life and death in situations where they are incapacitated.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in the fields of medical ethics and end-of-life care, employing specific terminology such as palliative care, feeding tubes, and the core principles of medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence). This expertise stems from long-term involvement in working groups, ethics committees (at the clinic/hospital and PERH), and the preparation of the draft legislation starting in 2020. Furthermore, details concerning the bill's development are cited, including the precedents set by Latvia and Germany and the necessity of training physicians.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The speaker's style is formal, analytical, and persuasive, relying heavily on ethical and logical arguments while explaining the significance of the change in medicine. The presentation includes both questions directed at the minister (concerning palliative care resources and awareness campaigns) and a long, detailed explanation of the necessity of the draft legislation. The tone is optimistic and appreciative regarding the consensus that has been reached.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The speaker’s track record demonstrates long-term and consistent involvement in the legislative drafting process, noting that they have served as a member of the ethics committees for two major hospitals (Kliinikum and PERH). They reference their participation in the initial working group, which convened 13 meetings starting in 2020, and the subsequent Ministry of Social Affairs working group beginning in early 2024.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
No direct political confrontation is expressed, and no political group is criticized. The criticism is directed instead at medicine's historical paternalistic approach ("taught in the spirit of Hippocrates") and the societal problem that death is a taboo subject. Difficulties are also mentioned, specifically where doctors face relatives who are fighting among themselves regarding the patient's wishes.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative style is consensual and inclusive; the speaker thanks the officials of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Estonian Doctors' Association, the University of Tartu Centre for Ethics, and other organizations for their contribution. It is emphasized that despite lengthy disputes, a broad consensus was reached regarding the current version of the draft legislation. The involvement of representatives from the Council of Churches in the negotiations is also mentioned.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is at the national level (Estonian medicine, health portal) and is related to amending the Estonian legal framework. Internationally, the models provided by Latvia and Germany are referenced concerning the ideas of the draft bill (e.g., a declaration of intent in free form).
4 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
There is insufficient information. Although the need to allocate greater resources toward providing palliative care and training doctors is mentioned, a broader macro-economic policy stance is not presented.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
The primary social issue is the normalization of death and end-of-life issues, as this remains a taboo subject within Estonian society. The speaker is a strong proponent of civil liberties, specifically through patient autonomy and the right to self-determination when deciding on medical procedures. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on the need to support individuals and their relatives through informational leaflets and media campaigns to ensure the topic is not intimidating.
4 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The main legislative priority is the draft bill concerning a patient's end-of-life declaration of will, the initiation and development of which the speaker supported and led. The objective is to create a legal obligation for doctors to comply with the patient’s previously expressed will, registered in the health portal, regarding the refusal of life-prolonging procedures. The achievement is considered to be the broad consensus reached and the completion of a long process.
4 Speeches Analyzed