LNP MPs to oppose VAD
BOTH Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts and Lockyer MP Jim McDonald will not support the voluntary assisted dying bill in its current state.
Mr McDonald said he had been opposed to the concept of euthanasia for a long time, but wanted to see a greater focus on euthanasia as a feature in palliative care.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill is scheduled to be debated in State Parliament next week.
“There is deficiency in palliative care across the state – some say it is a postcode lottery – but palliative care providers have been helping people die with dignity for years,” Mr McDonald said.
“Voluntary assisted dying should be part of the palliative care process and not a separate thing.”
Mr McDonald said he was particularly concerned by the criteria that extended an option for euthanasia to people with an illness that was expected to kill them within 12 months.
“I really think that is taking life too soon, before the endof-thelife process is too soon,” he said.
If passed, the bill would allow patients to seek medical health to end their lives if they had one of a select group of illnesses, can show decisionmaking capacity and that they are acting without coercion.
Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts said he would not back the bill either unless it was amended.
“The bill at present does not ensure informed consent because there is no specialist palliative care input, and it cannot ensure the patient is of sound mind because there is no specialist psychiatric input,” he said.
“Queensland should offer world’s best practice palliative care to every Queenslander; it is vital this area is adequately resourced in order to offer the world’s best end-of-life support.
The bill is expected to go to a conscience vote.