Western Aust Legalises Voluntary Euthanasia

[Occams Barber]

WA Passes Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation

Following months of debate, including considering 55 amendments, the Western Australian (WA) Parliament has passed legislation allowing terminally ill people to end their own lives.

To be eligible a person must be at least 18, and be terminally ill with a condition that is causing intolerable suffering likely to cause death within six months, or 12 months for a neurodegenerative condition.

Candidates will need to make two verbal requests and one written request. Those requests will have to be signed off by two doctors who are independent of each other.

The choice of lethal medication is a clinical decision from an approved list of drugs.

Self-administration is the preferred method but a patient could choose for a medical practitioner to administer the drug. The bill includes around 100 safeguards.

There will be an 18-month implementation period to give health and other service providers time to prepare for voluntary euthanasia before it comes into effect.

WA is the second Australian state, following Victoria, to adopt voluntary assisted dying. Like Victoria, WA’s legislation includes a 12-month residency requirement.

Voluntary euthanasia and/or doctor-assisted suicide is legally available in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA (California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Montana, Oregon, Vermont; Washington State and, from 2020, Maine) as well as Victoria (Australia) and now WA.

OB

Sources
WA's voluntary euthanasia laws will be a bit different to those in Victoria — here's how

Voluntary euthanasia becomes law in emotional scenes at WA Parliament

Euthanasia and assisted dying rates are soaring. But where are they legal?

Assisted suicide in the United States - Wikipedia

 

[Chesterton]

To be eligible a person must be at least 18, and be terminally ill with a condition that is causing intolerable suffering likely to cause death within six months, or 12 months for a neurodegenerative condition.

Candidates will need to make two verbal requests and one written request. Those requests will have to be signed off by two doctors who are independent of each other.

Sounds like a lot of red tape for something that suicidal people just do on their own everyday.

 

[Not David]

So the government allows their own people to kill themselves?? The current state of society.

 

[KateforChrist]

One word: Sad

I thought it was legal in the Northern Territory but found this:

Euthanasia in Australia - Wikipedia

"Euthanasia was legal for a period between 1996 and 1997 in the Northern Territory, until a federal law overturning the territory law (and removing the right of territories to legislate on euthanasia) was passed."

 

[Occams Barber]

Sounds like a lot of red tape for something that suicidal people just do on their own everyday.

The key word here is "assisted".

The legislation provides a legal framework within which a person, who meets a strict set of conditions, can be assisted in dying. 'Assisted' includes providing a safe and certain means of dying and/or administering the approved drug.
OB

 

[Tanj]

First the state I live in then the state I was born in.

Outstanding. It's like an early Christmas present.

 

[Silmarien]

Unfortunate. I was really surprised to see that Colombia had legalized it, though. I wouldn't have expected that.

 

[Occams Barber]

One word: Sad

I thought it was legal in the Northern Territory but found this:

Euthanasia in Australia - Wikipedia

"Euthanasia was legal for a period between 1996 and 1997 in the Northern Territory, until a federal law overturning the territory law (and removing the right of territories to legislate on euthanasia) was passed."

At one stage the ACT also had plans to bring in Assisted Suicide but the federal law stopped them.
OB

 

[Chesterton]

The key word here is "assisted".

The legislation provides a legal framework within which a person, who meets a strict set of conditions, can be assisted in dying. 'Assisted' includes providing a safe and certain means of dying and/or administering the approved drug.
OB

"If you want something done right, do it yourself", I always say.

 

[Heavenhome]

WA Passes Voluntary Euthanasia Legislation

Following months of debate, including considering 55 amendments, the Western Australian (WA) Parliament has passed legislation allowing terminally ill people to end their own lives.

To be eligible a person must be at least 18, and be terminally ill with a condition that is causing intolerable suffering likely to cause death within six months, or 12 months for a neurodegenerative condition.

Candidates will need to make two verbal requests and one written request. Those requests will have to be signed off by two doctors who are independent of each other.

The choice of lethal medication is a clinical decision from an approved list of drugs.

Self-administration is the preferred method but a patient could choose for a medical practitioner to administer the drug. The bill includes around 100 safeguards.

There will be an 18-month implementation period to give health and other service providers time to prepare for voluntary euthanasia before it comes into effect.

WA is the second Australian state, following Victoria, to adopt voluntary assisted dying. Like Victoria, WA’s legislation includes a 12-month residency requirement.

Voluntary euthanasia and/or doctor-assisted suicide is legally available in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the USA (California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Montana, Oregon, Vermont; Washington State and, from 2020, Maine) as well as Victoria (Australia) and now WA.

OB

Sources
WA's voluntary euthanasia laws will be a bit different to those in Victoria — here's how

Voluntary euthanasia becomes law in emotional scenes at WA Parliament

Euthanasia and assisted dying rates are soaring. But where are they legal?

Assisted suicide in the United States - Wikipedia

 

[Ricky M]

Many think it's wrong to take a dying person's life and end it before it ends itself.

Is it then not just as wrong to take a dying life, and extend it beyond where it would end itself?

I'm not a fan of modern medicine's ability to keep us alive beyond our expiration date.

And given terminal suffering circumstances, I'd just as soon cut to the chase.

 

[Desk trauma]

So the government allows their own people to kill themselves?? The current state of society.

I know! Clearly these people should be strapped down and forced to endure a natural agonizing death. Best dispense with painkillers too like Mother Teresa

 

[Kenny'sID]

I'm not a fan of modern medicine's ability to keep us alive beyond our expiration date.

While in a very real sense, for example, simply taking our blood pressure medication at 45yrs of age could well be prolonging life. Dialysis at 30yrs of age or die?

It's a matter of where to draw the line. Christ not only healed, but went as far as bringing some back to life, meaning, to me anyway, we can go as far as we like from a moral stand point....not that we would necessarily like it at all after a certain point.

Sounds to me like they covered most things that need covering in this decision...they're usually pretty thoughtful when it comes to the guidelines on this type thing.

 

[Not David]

I know! Clearly these people should be strapped down and forced to endure a natural agonizing death. Best dispense with painkillers too like Mother Teresa

Nice try

 

[Desk trauma]

Nice try

Snark now dispensed with, what’s the upside to not “allowing” people to control their own deaths? How will they and society benefit?

 

[KateforChrist]

From a Christian viewpoint it is telling God that we know better than Him.

 

[Nithavela]

From a Christian viewpoint it is telling God that we know better than Him.

Is that also the case with medication?

 

[Nithavela]

First the state I live in then the state I was born in.

Outstanding. It's like an early Christmas present.

Now let's aim one higher and go for involuntary euthanasia

 

[Occams Barber]

From a Christian viewpoint it is telling God that we know better than Him.

If I take medication to save my life am I not also telling God that we know better than him?

OB

 

[KateforChrist]

Taking a life is very different from saving/prolonging a life.

I do think that there are times when people are kept alive who should be allowed to die without intervention (other than pain relief) but it depends on the state of the person and on what treatment is being given and the individual's choice if they are able to do that.