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DANGER AHEAD - STOP KATE CHANEY MP's BILL
Kate Chaney MP (IND) introduces private member's bill to allow telehealth for assistance to suicide and euthanasia.
If passed, the bill will not only allow telehealth for existing euthanasia laws but allow states to use telehealth for any future expansion such as including for mental illness or for children.
STOP KATE CHANEY MP's BILL
BACKGROUND:
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Ms Katherine Chaney MP Member for Curtin introduced bill |
Dr Monique Ryan MP Member for Kooyong seconded bill |
A December 2023 decision in the Federal Court of Australia heralded a small win which reinforced the current ban on the use of telehealth (for assisted suicide and euthanasia).Judge Wendy Abraham KC ruled on 30/11/23 that the Criminal Code Act 1995 [which prevents doctors using telehealth] does apply to ending someone's life using assisted suicide and euthanasia. i.e the words "commit suicide" does apply to "VAD".
But this reprieve was not for long.
A private member's bill has now been introduced into Federal parliament on 12 February 2023 by Ms Katherine Chaney MP and seconded by: Dr Monique Ryan MP (both Independents). The bill is called the [Criminal Code Amendment (Telecommunications Offences for Suicide Related Material— Exception for Lawful Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2024]. The bill aims to circumvent the present ban on using telehealth by amending the Federal Criminal Code Act 1995.
PRIME MINISTER'S RESPONSE |
It is essential all of us write to Mr Anthony Albanese supporting his stand against the use of telehealth for assistance to suicide.
FEDERAL ATTORNEY-GENERAL RESPONSE
The Member for Curtin, Ms Chaney MP said that the Federal Attorney-General has committed to considering her bill.
Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC MP represents all Australians, so it is essential we also write to Mr Dreyfus to express our opposition.
Margaret Tighe, President, Right to Life Australia Inc stated: "I urge the Albanese government to resist the pressure for change on this issue and protect patients from any pressure from doctors to choose to kill themselves by euthanasia or so-called doctor assisted dying." |
ACTION PLEASE SEND TWO LETTERS:
A short personal letter is necessary. We don't need to get into the intricacies of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995!
Please write to:
- Write to: Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
- Write to: Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Federal Attorney-General, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Keep writing to our Federal MPs and Senators representing our state. Phone Parliament House, Canberra, 02 6277 7111 and ask for assistance to find your member of Federal Parliament and Senators or search here
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"NO to TELEHEALTH" POINTS TO USE IN YOUR LETTER:
- Telehealth consultation for euthanasia and assisted suicide is a dramatic step down a perilous path. Physicians would be authorised to prescribe death to patients - without seeing them in person.
- Such telehealth consultations are the most serious step in a patient's life. The consultation must be treated with seriousness - it is a "life and death" decision.
- Palliative care accompanies patients through the various stages of dying -depriving patients of this care and relegating them to merely a video link is irresponsible. .
- There would be no adequate safeguard from exploitation - such as elder abuse -so rampant, yet hard to detect - in a brief video-link in which "abusers" may well be present.
SAMPLE LETTERS:
Dear Prime Minister/Mr Dreyfus
If access to assistance to suicide and euthanasia is allowed via a telephone call or a video consultation the safeguards in place to protect patients will be easily circumvented leading even to wrongful deaths. Safeguards are there for every person, and not related to postcode. All Australians in cities as well as remote areas need to be protected. This bill, will also open flood gates to allow states to use telehealth for any future expansion in euthanasia including for mental illness or for children. Please oppose Ms Chaney MP's bill and continue the existing ban on assistance to suicide and euthanasia using telehealth consultation.
Yours faithfully, Name, address, state
Dear Prime Minister/Mr Dreyfus
I wish to oppose Ms Kate Chaney MP and Dr Monique Ryan MP's bill to allow telemedicine for assisted suicide and euthanasia consultations. Telehealth Consultations were used during COVID replacing face to face medical care. However, there are significant disadvantages to such telehealth consultations. Many patients using telehealth consultations may not know the treating doctor. Likewise, the doctor may not know the patient. Telehealth consultations for assessment and approval for assistance to suicide and euthanasia would be in a special class of their own involving life ending decisions. Please oppose the removal of the existing ban of telehealth consultations.
Yours sincerely Name, address, state
Dear Prime Minister/Mr Dreyfus
I oppose Ms Chaney MPs bill to allow access to assistance to suicide and euthanasia by telehealth. Íf passed, a virtual visit suffices in finding a doctor who will prescribe lethal drugs It no longer depends on having a personal relationship with a doctor. Nothing prevents depressed or suicidal patients from doctor shopping to find someone willing to prescribe them death rather than the mental health care and suicide prevention they need." This is a dangerous move which could result in potential abuse and fraudulent use of prescribed medicines.
Yours faithfully, Name, address, state
Dear Prime Minister/Mr Dreyfus
I oppose Ms Chaney MPs bill to allow access to assistance to suicide and euthanasia by telehealth. This is a life and death issue. Already in Victoria a medical Dr Carr was found guilty last year and fined $12,000 when he failed to obtain signatures while approving a patient's application for assistance to suicide. It is not hard to imagine the problems when digital signatures are used! Please oppose the bill and continue to protect patients who need good medical care and not a fast track to giving up. Yours faithfully,
Name, address, state
Dear Prime Minister/Mr Dreyfus
We know older people are being coerced into giving up inheritances early and for financial gain by relatives. They often talk about being a burden to their family. A medical practitioner providing assisted suicide information to a person by telehealth cannot possibly know what is going on in the background. We need to pass legislation to strengthen protection for our elderly not reduce safeguards.
Yours faithfully, Name, address, state
Alex Schadenberg, the co-founder and executive director of the Canadian-based Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, recently warned: "Safeguards are part of a deliberate bait-and-switch tactic by assisted suicide advocates to get a bill passed and then come back to amend it by gutting those safeguards."(Alex Schadenberg blogspot (Canada) 11 December 2023). |
Silence After Abortion Death!Appalling news regarding the death of a Melbourne mother of two following an abortion at a Melbourne clinic in January 2024. Especially appalling was the silence of Melbourne media. I wonder why the only report in major media in Melbourne was the Herald Sun which ensures the true nature of the procedure is not revealed. Daily Mail (Aus) produced an article which can be read online. |