'Dying
with Dignity' Bill - Victoria
A Victorian Legislative Assembly members, Ken Smith,
announced last year that he planned to bring a private member's bill
to the Victorian Parliament to allow for 'doctor-assisted dying'.
The Age newspaper reported on 18 March 2008 that he has
released details of his bill, and that the bill could be introduced into
parliament as early as next month.
Euthanasia
bill to bar 'death tourists'
The Age, Carol Nader, March 18,
2008.
The bill would allow 'doctor assisted dying' but it states that people must
live in
Victoria
for at least 12 months - to avoid 'death tourists'. The Age reports that the
Bill also says that at least two doctors would have to deem the patient was
suffering from "intolerable pain" and had an incurable illness before medication
could be prescribed to help them die and that three different drugs would be
allowed to be prescribed.
The Bill does not mention 'euthanasia' and would not allow a doctor to
actually give a lethal injection - but it is being strongly
promoted by pro-euthanasia groups like Dying with Dignity
Victoria (which USED to be called 'Voluntary Euthanasia
Society of Victoria').
The Age reports that the "Government has indicated it would not
support the bill, making it unlikely MPs will have the chance to debate
it." A spokesman for Premier John Brumby told The Age that they
have a 'full legislative program'.
This is good news... but we still need to take
action!
Ken Smith describes himself as a "God loving Christian" who
has watched family members die. Click here to read his
speech to the 'Dying with Dignity
Victoria'
rally -
Whatever the circumstances, we do not believe we, as Christians, should
support such legislation.
ACTION: If you live in
Victoria,
please contact your MPs (1 Legislative Assembly, 5 Legislative Council) to
oppose this Bill.
Click here for MP
contact details.
Media articles:
State
Liberal MP to push death law
The Age, Carol Nader, June
21, 2007
Euthanasia
bill to bar 'death tourists'
The Age, Carol Nader, March 18,
2008. Author: Jenny Stokes | Modified: 18 March 2008 |
