Making final decision

I AM writing regarding the article “Palliative care key” ( TB, 13/7).

Victoria was the first state to pass the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) law, which is the safest and the most conservative in the world.

Other states, including Queensland, are set to follow. The Queensland Government Health Committee, chaired by local MP Aaron Harper, after receiving over 5000 submissions into VAD, has been conducting public hearings throughout Queensland speaking to Queenslanders about their views on VAD.

The committee will present its findings to parliament by November 30 after which it will be up to the members of parliament to make their decision.

DWDQ has been trying for many years to have a law introduced into Queensland so that terminally ill patients suffering unbearably, with no hope of recovery or of a cure and with a diagnosis of death within a certain time frame, could have the choice of a pain-free and peaceful death.

In Australia, we have an excellent palliative care system which has helped many patients as they approach their end of life. However, even the best palliative care practice can’t always alleviate severe symptoms of the dying process, causing unbearable suffering to the patient, and that is why we need to give these people choices.

Palliative care agrees with terminal sedation but DWD sees this as slow and cruel euthanasia as it can extend the patient’s life for up to three weeks.

Bishop Harris admitted during a recent ABC interview he had to call nurses to give his mother extra painkillers as she was suffering while in palliative care. He also ignores the fact that only the patient can request to end their life.

Whereas VAD allows the patient to die with dignity at the time of their choosing, terminal sedation does not allow the patient to have any choice whatsoever.

The majority of Queenslanders (over 80 per cent) believe the end of life choices should be made available to them so they can choose the time and place of death and die with dignity with their loving family around them.

Since Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act almost 20 years ago there have not been any cases of abuse of the law. Assisted dying deaths account for less than 1 per cent of total deaths in Oregon.

DWDQ realises VAD is not for everyone as there are people with various beliefs and reasons who do not approve of it. We do respect the views of these people.