WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO PASS VAD LAWS

There is nothing like the thought of imminent death to bring some perspective back into one’s life. Today’s story about Owen Burdock and his wish to leave this earth on his own terms is a must-read.

Owen is trapped in a failing body ravaged by the late stages of a terminal disease – he is dying in front of everyone’s eyes.

Confined to a wheelchair, his body is no longer his own.

That said, his mind is clear, he wants to die to escape the pain and the indignity of what his life has now become. The terminal illness has been devastating.

His left hand is irreversibly contorted, his knees constantly trying to cross over, he drools uncontrollably while needing his eyes pried open to see.

Owen can barely utter a word but says his life is a living hell, one he is unable to escape.

But there is a way out for Owen. Queensland politicians, if they have the intestinal fortitude, can pass the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021.

It’s something that has caused a lot of debate, and like many of the Bill’s opponents say “the

… there is a way out for Owen

devil is in the detail”. But surely for people such as Owen there is no down side. He has just months to live. Each day he is alive the pain will increase.

His body will contort and twist up, like a cripple laying sideways in bed in a foetal position.

He will die a horrible death. His carers say he will probably die from malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia or worse, drowning in his own secretions. And this isn’t because he has no one to care for him, it’s the nature of the disease.

There has to be a way VAD can be made legal as well as calm the concerns of the church.

For those with religious beliefs who are against euthanasia, they need to be able to say “no”.

But for others such as Owen, who are destined for a horrible end, VAD laws must be passed.