Report available on internet

Voluntary euthanasia will probably be rejected once again in the Australian state of Tasmania. In May the leader of the Green Party, Nick McKim, introduced a private member’s bill, Dying with Dignity Bill 2009, which was referred to a committee. After three months of hearings, the committee issued a report which declared that the bill "in its current form does not provide an adequate or concise legislative framework to permit voluntary euthanasia/physician assisted suicide."

The report, which is available on the internet, is a good summary of arguments for and against euthanasia. It is the second time that the Tasmanian Parliament has rejected a euthanasia bill, despite a supportive media. An even more vigorous debate in 1998 ended with another negative report. The Parliament has yet to vote on the bill, but its prospects look dim. ~ Tasmanian Parliament website

Michael Cook

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Michael Cook

Michael Cook edits BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter, and MercatorNet, an on-line magazine whose focus is human dignity. He writes from Sydney, Australia.

Latest posts by Michael Cook (see all)

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