Urgency on new laws
SPLIT voluntary assisted dying from Health, Communities, Disability Services and
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee.
Dying with Dignity Queensland along with the Clem Jones Group and Doctors for Assisted Dying is asking the Premier to urge the Health Committee to report on voluntary assisted dying by November 30 this year after the shocking figures released by the Official National Coronial Information System show 84 self-inflicted deaths a year in our state were by people with terminal or debilitating physical conditions.
Queenslanders were very disappointed when it was announced the Health Committee was extending the date to report back to the parliament to March 31, 2020, instead of by November 30 this year, as was the original date. We want to see VAD split from the other commitments the Health Committee has undertaken to allow this to happen this year.
Compared with 50 deaths in Victoria and 41 deaths in Western Australia yearly, Queensland’s rate, which is more than twice that of WA and well over that of Victoria, shows the need for accessing VAD in Queensland sooner rather than later.
These deaths occurred mainly because many of these people were unable to get relief from their unbearable suffering and with no other option available at the end of their life, took things into their own hands, which ended with them having a lonely and often violent death. This affected the family members and also on those first on the horrific scene.
To all those who want to see VAD introduced into Queensland as soon as possible, there are now two ways you can show your support.
Firstly, go to the Queensland parliament Current E-petition website, scroll down to “3170-19Voluntary Assisted Dying”, click on it and you will be able to sign Fiona Jacobs’ petition urging the Premier to have voluntary assisted dying legislation drafted, tabled and dealt with as a matter of urgency prior to the 2020 state election. Do not sign if you already have done so.
The other way is to join DWDQ, the Clem Jones Group, and Doctors for Assisted Dying to convince the Premier to change the date back to November 30 for the Health Committee to report back to Parliament. Address the envelope as follows:
The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier of Queensland, PO Box 75, Inala Qld 4077.
It is up to all Queenslanders to help get a VAD law into parliament. Please write to the Premier to convince her we want it sooner rather than later.
JOAN MUSUMECI, DWDQ Regional Co-ordinator, Townsville.