Fiji doctors discuss suicide
Thursday September 02, 2004

Fiji's suicide problem will be a major topic of discussion by hundreds of member of the Fiji Medical Association today.

Association president, Doctor Mary Schramm, says Fiji's high suicide rate is a matter of grave concern.

"Suicide is a great cause of suffering for families so we've devoted a whole morning to the area of stress to both doctors and people in general on the issue of suicide," says Dr Schramm.

"If everybody who ends up attempting suicide came to the doctor about it beforehand there'd be a lot fewer suicides but of course in fact most of them don't but these things we'll be discussed at the morning session."

Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase opened the FMA 45th annual conference at the Holiday Inn, Suva last night.

Other issues to be discussed include medical ethics and the role of legislation in controlling and assisting the medical association to better serve the community.

Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited

FROM: http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2004/09/02/02Flive6.html