Good morning ,
You would think that commonsense might prevail. When laws were introduced
legalising access to Voluntary Assisted Dying, it was recognised that such laws were a compassionate response to the suffering of people during the process of dying.
The Cth Criminal Code has a provision outlawing the use of telephones or emails or video-conferencing to provide
information on methods of suicide. This was introduced explicitly to prevent Phillip Nitschke's Exit International group from sharing such information to the group's members.
But suicide is not the same as voluntary assisted dying!
For one thing, VAD is for people who are already dying and their death is inevitable; death by suicide is tragic and
usually preventable. VAD is welcomed by the person who has chosen it and by their family; suicide leaves the shocked and grieving in its wake. Death by VAD is caused by the underlying illness; death by suicide is the suicidal act itself.
You would think the federal
Attorney-General would see commonsense prevail and amend the Cth Criminal Code to make it clear that the intent of the provision outlawing the use of telecommunications for suicide is not meant to include VAD.
But depsite multiple waves of lobbying, commonsense has not prevailed and
the AG does nothing.
Now, Kate Chaney has introduced a private member's bill to force him to confront the issue. Please support her.
