
Victoria to debate assisted suicide
Labor government to introduce legislation in second half of next year
The Labor Government of the Australian state of Victoria will introduce legislation into the Parliament next year to legalise assisted suicide. The Labor Party will allow its MPs a conscience vote.
Assisted suicide recently failed in the South Australian Parliament, but only after the Speaker cast the deciding vote. Supporters of change have been buoyed up by their near miss in Adelaide and by a widely publicized campaign orchestrated by media personality Andrew Denton.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is a late convert to the cause of assisted suicide after his father died of cancer earlier this year. “Community sentiment on this issue is changing” he says, “and I know many in Victoria think it’s time we have this debate – a debate that respects people’s views and respects people’s lives.”
A discussion paper will be released for public comment early next year, followed by consultations with stakeholders. The Government expects to introduce the legislation in the second half of 2017.
Victorian Sex Party MP Fiona Patten welcomed the Government’s “bold” move. “Allowing terminally ill people the right to die when they choose with dignity, is not only compassionate but common sense,” she said.
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/TH_parliament-2014.jpg
Creative commons
https://www.bioedge.org/images/2008images/parliament-2014.jpg
assisted suicide
australia
victoria
More Stories
Missouri man killed wife because he couldn’t afford her medical bills
A 75-year-old Missouri man has been charged with the murder of his wife after allegedly strangling her in a hospital bed because...
Ireland’s medical council gears up for legal assisted dying
In March, a committee of Ireland’s parliament recommended that “the Government introduce legislation allowing forassisted dying”. If this is approved,...
Texas doctor found guilty of poisoning patients
A Texas anaesthetist has been convicted on charges of injecting patients' IV bags with dangerous drugs, which led to the...
Ukrainian man sells suicide powders on the internet from a flat in Kyiv
A Ukrainian man from Kyiv has been sending parcels of suicide powder to the United Kingdom since at least 2020...
UK parliament report on ‘assisted dying’ refuses to take sides
A long-anticipated report from the British Parliament on “assisted dying” has not made any dramatic recommendations, to the dismay of supporters and...
Australia’s Northern Territory ponders ‘assisted dying’
The government of Australia’s Northern Territory is surveying residents to assess the scope of a voluntary assisted dying law. All states have...