Inquiry hears of wish to die
Partner fights for death with dignity
YVONNE Wegmuller watched her partner die in the most painful way after a “very hard struggle with cancer”.
Ms Wegmuller’s emotional story was one of several from Far North residents told at a State Government inquiry examining law reform for voluntary assisted dying.
The Mount Sheridan resident said if voluntary euthanasia was legal in Queensland, her partner of 25 years would have died peacefully.
YVONNE Wegmuller wants the world to know that Keith Mecca did not die peacefully.
Mr Mecca, 50, died at Gordonvale Community Hospital two days before Australia Day 2017 after a “very hard struggle with cancer”.
Ms Wegmuller made sure it said so, on her long-term partner’s death notice, when it was published in this newspaper two years ago.
She said until voluntary assisted dying was legalised in Queensland, it was important that people understood the anguish and torture people faced not being able to grant their loved ones a final wish to die with dignity.
“Every day, for 18 months, something else went wrong with Keith’s body,” she said.
“There was hardly any day that was a happy day.
“The first time he asked me to help him to die, I wanted to do it so badly. I did not care about the consequences – I just wanted to help him.”
Ms Wegmuller was one of several Far North residents who spoke at yesterday’s State Government inquiry examining law reform for voluntary assisted dying.
The Mt Sheridan resident, who broke down in tears before the parliamentary committee, said if voluntary euthanasia had been legalised in Queensland, her partner of 25 years would have died peacefully.
“He would have been able to have the drug that put him to sleep, at home with friends,” she said. “Everybody could have come to be with him, if they wanted to.
“I reckon that would have been peaceful for him.
“But there was absolutely nothing peaceful about it – nothing at all.
“It was horrible, it was inhumane.
“It should have not been like that and this is why the law needs to change.”
The inquiry is also examining aged care and end-of-life palliative care.
Another speaker, Frank Dykstra, told the hearing about his late wife Heather, who died in a Cairns nursing home in January after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
“I was filled with guilt that we had no option for support for her at home – it simply wasn’t available,” he said.
“My wish is that the government develop a system for aged care so that the person who is being cared for is able to remain in their own home for as long as possible.”