Compassion is at the heart of legislation tabled today in the House of Assembly that will help Tasmanians suffering persistent and intolerable pain that cannot be relieved through medical treatment or palliative care, to die.
Labor Member for Franklin Lara Giddings, has joined with Greens Member for Denison, Cassy O’Connor to bring a Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill to the Tasmanian Parliament ready for debate in 2017.
“This bill provides for a safe and responsible legal process for people to choose their own death where they are suffering intolerable pain and can make an informed decision for themselves.
“While palliative care is highly valued and for most people can assist them to die a peaceful death, we know that there are some for whom palliation cannot help and it is these people who deserve the choice to end their own suffering.”
Ms Giddings said that the bill was largely based on the original bill brought in by herself and then Member for Franklin, Nick McKim, in 2013.
“Since we debated the 2013 bill, there has been an inquiry handed down in the Victorian parliament, a ground-breaking Canadian Supreme Court decision and legislation adopted in Canada all in support of voluntary assisted dying laws.
“These debates and reports have helped inform some changes to strengthen further the 2013 bill including, the definition of an eligible medical condition.
“In short, a person must have a serious incurable and irreversible medical condition, which is in its advanced stages and is causing persistent suffering for the person that is intolerable.
“In addition, there must be no reasonably available medical treatment or palliative care option that would relieve a person’s suffering and is acceptable to that person.
“We have also addressed concerns raised by the Tasmanian Law Society at the time of the 2013 debate.”
Ms Giddings said that with a bill now tabled, Tasmanians can view the bill and suggest any other amendments that could be considered well in advance of the parliamentary debate in 2017.
“It is time we had laws that support this last resort option for people to end their suffering in Tasmania.
“My passion for legislative reform comes from my long held view that no one should be made to live with insufferable pain.
“You only have to read the stories of Australians in Go Gentle’s publication The Damage Done to see the pain and damage inflicted on people and their families, where they have no choice to end their own life.
“We must be compassionate, but also responsible and ensure that any assistance given to a person to die is done so within a legal framework, with appropriate safeguards and provisions, checks and balances.
“The 2013 bill was narrowly defeated in the House of Assembly. With the strengthening of this bill and the growing momentum behind legislative reform across Australia, it is my hope that the Tasmanian Parliament can lead the way.
“This is one of few issues to be debated in Parliament which is not party political, but relies on the conscience of each member of the house.
“I am hopeful that this bill will get the support of the parliament.
“This issue will never go away and it is time we provided Tasmanians with a choice.”
COMMENT below … or EARLIER on Margaretta Pos’ evocative account of her dad’s death …
• An Argument for Assisted Dying in Australia: Andrew Denton’s Di Gribble Argument in full
MARGARETTA POS on Tasmanian Times …
