Despite the torturous crisis situation with NSW in lockdown MP Alex Greenwich has seized the opportunity to further his agenda on euthanasia. The so called ‘consultation’ draft of his bill is a further step down the dangerous path of assisted suicide for Australians.
It’s an absurd time for Greenwich to seek ‘consultation’ on a bill designed specifically to end the lives of elderly and vulnerable people. Greenwich is out of touch with the people. How can he adequately consult with the community in the middle of strict lockdown? And his bill has been rushed as shown by s26(3), (ii) B which seems to remove the requirement for applicant’s illness to be terminal under this section.
Why doesn’t he wait until Parliament returns and introduce the bill through proper Parliamentary processes? It is clear the reason why is that he is not serious about consulting with the community.
He thinks he can push poll this Bill through the Parliament.
If he was serious about dealing with end-of-life issues, real issues of concern for the community, he would focus on palliative care funding first.
He might also consider a bill that supports people emotionally in the COVID crisis to reduce the risks of a decline in mental health.
He should be more interested in supporting life rather than allowing doctors to kill their patients.
Each new bill incrementally reduces safeguards – the slippery slope’ or ‘scope creep’.
In the same vein as the Queensland euthanasia bill the Greenwich bill has a residency exemption from the minimum one-year residency if a person has a “substantial connection” to NSW or even a ‘compassionate’ reason.
Doctors or even nurse practitioners will be able to initiate discussion about assisted suicide with patients if at the same time they also mention other treatments options. This is a pretence of a safeguard.
How many patients will give up on otherwise warranted treatment which may save their life when, in the doctor’s surgery the ‘alternative’ option of assisted suicide could be raised?
Dr Brendan Long Vice President Right to Life Australia Mobile 0408 421 447
IF THIS DISCUSSION CAUSES YOU ANGUISH OR CONCERN PLEASE CONTACT LIFELINE ON 131114 OR BEYOND BLUE ON 1300 224 636. ALL PARTIES AND ALL MEDIA OUTLETS INVOLVED IN THE ASSISTED SUICIDE DEBATE MUST ACT RESPONSIBLY TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY INCLUDING SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION IN ALL REPORTING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS COUNCIL STANDARDS.
Despite the torturous crisis situation with NSW in lockdown MP Alex Greenwich has seized the opportunity to further his agenda on euthanasia. The so called ‘consultation’ draft of his bill is a further step down the dangerous path of assisted suicide for Australians.
It’s an absurd time for Greenwich to seek ‘consultation’ on a bill designed specifically to end the lives of elderly and vulnerable people. Greenwich is out of touch with the people. How can he adequately consult with the community in the middle of strict lockdown? And his bill has been rushed as shown by s26(3), (ii) B which seems to remove the requirement for applicant’s illness to be terminal under this section.
Why doesn’t he wait until Parliament returns and introduce the bill through proper Parliamentary processes? It is clear the reason why is that he is not serious about consulting with the community. He thinks he can push poll this Bill through the Parliament.
If he was serious about dealing with end-of-life issues, real issues of concern for the community, he would focus on palliative care funding first.
He might also consider a bill that supports people emotionally in the COVID crisis to reduce the risks of a decline in mental health.
He should be more interested in supporting life rather than allowing doctors to kill their patients.
Each new bill incrementally reduces safeguards – the slippery slope’ or ‘scope creep’.
In the same vein as the Queensland euthanasia bill the Greenwich bill has a residency exemption from the minimum one-year residency if a person has a “substantial connection” to NSW or even a ‘compassionate’ reason.
Doctors or even nurse practitioners will be able to initiate discussion about assisted suicide with patients if at the same time they also mention other treatments options. This is a pretence of a safeguard.
How many patients will give up on otherwise warranted treatment which may save their life when, in the doctor’s surgery the ‘alternative’ option of assisted suicide could be raised?
Dr Brendan Long Vice President Right to Life Australia Mobile 0408 421 447
IF THIS DISCUSSION CAUSES YOU ANGUISH OR CONCERN PLEASE CONTACT LIFELINE ON 131114 OR BEYOND BLUE ON 1300 224 636. ALL PARTIES AND ALL MEDIA OUTLETS INVOLVED IN THE ASSISTED SUICIDE DEBATE MUST ACT RESPONSIBLY TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY BY INCLUDING SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION IN ALL REPORTING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS COUNCIL STANDARDS.
The Right to Life Australia Inc. defends the right to life of all human beings from conception until natural death. We lobby government for legal protection of the most vulnerable in society – the unborn baby, elderly, sick and those with disabilities.