The state government has committed to introducing a bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying in WA through parliament next year.
The decision was made based on the recommendations from the ‘My Life, My Choice’ report tabled in August by the Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices.
The report found a protracted death from a terminal, chronic or neurological condition could have a devastating effect on patients and their families and that voluntary assisted dying should be an option where death was a foreseeable outcome of the condition.
The bill will be drafted in consultation with a panel of health and law experts to provide a safe and compassionate framework for voluntary assisted dying.
Health Minister Roger Cook said the introduction of the bill would provide people who were ‘experiencing grievous and irremediable suffering associated with advanced and progressive terminal conditions with an additional choice’.
Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said he believed it was time to introduce assisted dying legislation.
“While the new legislation has not yet been drafted, I support in-principal the notion of voluntary assisted dying,” he said.
“There have been several occasions where people I have known personally would have been far better off if given the option to take control of their circumstances.
“While not everyone will agree, there is overwhelming community support for the option of a controlled and self-determined pathway in certain circumstances.”
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Mr Murray said it would be important for the bill to be drafted so as to provide protections from potential abuses.
“It is important that the final legislation ensures any process towards assisted dying is kept fully in the control of the individual, with strong protections against abuse,” he said.
“The option of assisted dying in certain circumstances is something that has been raised with me by members of the public on numerous occasions, and I believe the time has come to move this option forward.”
Roe MLA Peter Rundle said while he agreed with the report, he would consult his electorate before deciding how to vote.
He also said if voluntary assisted dying was to be legalised the government should facilitate regional patients to be able to pass away in their own community.
“I would like to see it facilitated to a point within the regions. It would be nice if people could stay as close as possible to home and to family and friends,” he said.
Have your say. Do you support the introduction of voluntary assisted dying legislation and why?
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