Laws needed to give people a real choice
AFTER several delays, the time has finally come for our parliamentarians to debate the very important issue of Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).
It’s to be hoped all MPS have listened to the over 80 per cent of their constituents, who, when polled over many years, said they wanted the option of an end-of-life choice of a pain-free, peaceful death compared with one of constant, intolerable suffering. At present they have no choice at all.
There are religious and various other organisations objecting to the proposed Bill by describing VAD as “putting people to death” or “state-sanctioned killing” or even “suicide”.
VAD is none of these. It is a way to give those terminally ill patients a choice at the end of their life. With no hope of relief, those patients are expected to suffer until their last breath when there could be help at hand if VAD was legislated. If they met all the strict criteria, they could access a painfree, peaceful and dignified death should they choose it.
After receiving almost 5000 submissions, the Queensland Health and Environment Committee conducted public hearings around the state. Many hours were also spent by the Queensland Law Reform Commission working on the draft Bill, which consists of 113 pages.
It was finalised in consultation with the Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel and this is the report that will be debated this week by the Queensland members of parliament.
The opponents of Voluntary Assisted Dying insist that VAD is not necessary because palliative care can help all terminally ill patients, but this is not so. Dr Will Cairns, a leading palliative care professional, who previously was the director of palliative care at the Townsville hospital for 24 years, (TB 08/09/21) admitted to the committee that some patients’ pain and suffering, with the best of care, could not be relieved.
These are the people who desperately need access to VAD and that is why Queensland politicians, regardless of which political party they are members of, should keep in mind their constituents’ views when casting their important vote.
VAD is not for everyone. It will only be available to the terminally ill and only if the patient meets all the strict criteria, which importantly includes decisionmaking capacity. Yes, voluntary does mean voluntary so don’t believe the misinformation being peddled around which states, “Queensland is about to become the only state in Australia that forces people or workplaces to participate in voluntary assisted
dying against their will”.
Go to the Queensland government’s website on VAD and read the truth about VAD yourself and make up your own mind.
Some organisations are going to extreme lengths to misinform and scare people.
We must remember that VAD is needed by those terminally ill patients to have a choice at the end of their life, on how, when and where they wish to end it.
Let’s face it, if we were healthy and enjoying our life, we wouldn’t want it to end but when suffering unbearable pain, life doesn’t have the same meaning and we shouldn’t expect our loved ones to tolerate it one day longer than necessary.
VAD is not compulsory and all MPS need to think of these people when voting. They are the only ones to be affected by this legislation, which will allow their families to be with them for their last farewell.
We know there are various views on VAD and regardless of the outcome of the parliamentary debate, we must respect the views of others and have them respect ours also.
Most Queenslanders are wanting to see VAD legislated and we hope all the work the Health and Environment Committee, the Queensland Law Reform Commission and others will be
rewarded with a favourable vote. JOAN MUSUMECI, Condon.
THERE IS NO JUSTICE
HERE is laugh-out-loud evidence of the laws introduced by the Queensland government that the majority of the voting public put into power at the last election.
A teenager steals a car, tries to run over the person he’s stolen it from then escapes, smashes the car and burns it. The judge lets him go, so he continues along his merry way and steals another car the next day. The judge lets him off again. OK, that’s one side of the story, here’s another case: An 80year-old man clouts a 60-oddyear-old male with his walking stick after finally getting fed up of years of bearing insults and goading over the fact that he votes conservative. This Labor-loving, lifelong, welfare-dependent bludger complains to the police about the little bruise he got.
The result being that the said 80-year-old pensioner is issued with a written, official caution for serious assault. Does one laugh or cry? The police understand the stupidity of the situation but can’t do a thing. If this pathetic mob of incompetents get voted in again, their supporters need mental assessment.
Saturday’s story about the demise of both the Waterview and Metropole restaurants at the dead end of Palmer St revived memories of the long lunches enjoyed at the Metropole in the good old days. Local epicureans will recall that there used to be a honour board at the Metropole displaying the records for the longest lunches in what was then one of the best eateries in Australia. From memory the record stood at 12 hours (11am-11pm). The names on that honour board read like a who’s who of Townsville. DK, 4810
Read Shari on Sat, (we’re reaping what’s been sown) true that, and this is because the farmers are our elected muppets. These three are going to vote on the VAD Bill, important decisions like this should go to a referendum. MARTY, MT LOUISA
John Andersen (TB Sept 11-12), is your article published anywhere else other than our Bulletin? If not, why not? If this doesn’t convince anti-vaxxers that they need to be protected from Covid, they are beyond all help,
WARREN, A’DALE
If Nick Dametto put as much effort in working with the LNP as he does
with Labor at every given opportunity, maybe he would have made some real progress with the youth crime crisis crippling Townsville. JR, 4810
Not wanting to take anything away from Outback Mike’s amazing journey but how was Morrill expected to navigate to Booby Island? A spec some 1500km away and through croc and shark infested waters in much more plentiful numbers than today. I note Mike took modern navigational aids? I think Morrill knew when he was on to a good thing with the natives. But good on you Mike. Extraordinary effort, one to tell the kids about and I’m sure the story will sell well. JIM, 4817
Once upon a time we rarely heard the sound of sirens. Nowadays it seems to be the norm. Loved going to Rossiters Park but now there’s an aggregation of people of dubious character who come to make it their camp for the day. Even the police have to come at times. Is there a park or shopping centre in Townsville that is safe for families to enjoy? Everything nice about this city is being destroyed at an ever increasing pace. Something needs to change. NEV, 4814
TCC: What’s the go with new plan or barrier ‘set up’ for plot access at Belgian Gardens Cemetery? Make the old, frail, elderly walk a mile to visit loved ones. BS set up/plan. Thoughtless. What an utter balls-up. How much did that bright idea cost the ratepayers? One bonus I guess, at least there’s some water pressure now. Drawback: Got to walk a mile to find one or get to one. No signage, nothing. Not good enough. NAT, 4812
NA. 4812, what are you afraid of, the unvaxxed are a danger only to themselves and anyone else unvaxxed. If the vax works. M. THOMAS, 4824