JON AYLING
THE euthanasia debate has been well entrenched in both national and international media for decades now. Exit International and Philip Nitzchke have been in the Australian media regularly, the Northern Territory legalised euthanasia for a period, there have been countless articles in various medical and scientific journals and newspapers exposing the pros and cons of this debate.
There are also other countries such as Switzerland that provide a precedent for such a proposal. Nick McKim’s bill is not full blown unconditional euthanasia and only proposes voluntary euthanasia in cases where analgesia is no longer possible.
How can our politicians not be aware of the issues and implications surrounding matters like voluntary euthanasia? Ruth Forrest’s request for yet another inquiry on this issue is more of an admission of her own lack of understanding than anything else.
Mike Bolan
June 21, 2009 at 23:19
Why don’t we ask the question differently like this:
Who should decide about the manner and timing of a person’s passing?
1) The individual concerned and their doctor?
2) The Tasmanian parliament?
Jon Ayling
June 23, 2009 at 08:29
Thanks for distilling it down to the bare essentials Mike. Well said.