July 25, 2017
Euthanasia plan not enough, says Philip Nitschke
The Australian, Samantha Hutchinson
Victoria’s voluntary euthanasia plan does not go far enough to address the needs of an ageing population demanding more control over how they die, according to euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke.
Dr Nitschke applauded the government’s attempt to create what will be the country’s only program giving terminal patients the right to die, but said the model overlooked the largest demographic calling for reform.
The government released a report last week outlining a voluntary assisted-suicide program open only to patients of sound mind who are suffering an incurable terminal disease likely to kill them within a year.
Patients with dementia cannot access the program, and patients with mental illness or a disability cannot apply for access based on those conditions alone.
The report, written by former Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler, and billed as the most conservative euthanasia model in the world, will form the backbone of legislation to be put to a parliamentary vote this year.
Dr Nitschke said the proposed euthanasia model was significant, but said its strict entry requirements meant the vast bulk of Australians requesting the right to die wouldn’t be able to access it.
“It’s a very heavily medicalised piece of legislation. The argument is it has to be like that in order to get through state parliament, but it’s not really going to address the growing clamour of an ageing population who want choices,” Dr Nitschke told The Australian.
“This idea of having to wait to be sick enough to comply with the requirements and then having to ask for permission doesn’t fit with the growing sentiment of most elderly Australians. There’s going to be so many people who simply won’t be able to comply with these rigorous prerequisites.”
Dr Nitschke will be in Australia next month to conduct a six-week national roadshow teaching ageing Australians how to take control of their end-of-life plans.
The roadshow has already sold more than 1000 tickets.
“They want to be the ones making the decision about when they die,” he said. “They’re people generally described as the ‘well elderly’ who want to make sure they’ve got their own safety net.’’
Former palliative care nurse and Exit International supporter Cath Ringwood, 67, is furious the scheme is open only to patients with fewer than 12 months to live. The Melbourne mother has battled leukaemia for 20 years and breast cancer for eight years, and is in near-constant pain.
Her illness is unlikely to kill her within the next 12 months, but low immunity means she is susceptible to pneumonia and other potentially fatal infections.
She says an assisted-suicide scheme would give her a sense of confidence to fight the disease.
“I will most likely die of pneumonia and that’s a horrible death. I’d like to be discharged with a peaceful pill and I could choose whether or not to take it,” she said. “Who’s to say what’s an intolerable level of suffering?’’