voluntary euthanasia

I gave notice on Thursday 19th November 2009 that at the next sitting of the house I will move to introduce the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2010, a Bill for an Act to provide for the administration of voluntary euthanasia. The bill is downloadable below:

On Thursday 20th May 2010 I gave my Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2010 second reading speech. The speech is downloadable below:

The word euthanasia comes from the Greek eu and thanatos, which together mean "good death." I believe our community has reached the point where, in the majority, we believe a terminally ill person, who is in pain and suffering, should have the right to choose to have a “good death”.

The Bill will provide civil and criminal immunity to a medical practitioner who administers euthanasia to a terminally ill person provided the medical practitioner acts within the strict requirements of the Bill.

The Bill establishes an administrative structure that can only be enacted by mentally competent adults who live in Western Australia. It will allow such a person, who is terminally ill and in pain and suffering, to make an application for the administration of euthanasia. That application must be assessed by 2 independent medical practitioners, who will assess the application on the basis of strict and lengthy criteria which is set out in the legislation. If that criteria is passed, the terminally ill patient must then re-state his or her wish for a “good death” before euthanasia may be administered. Again, euthanasia may only be administered in accordance with the strict and lengthy requirements set out in the Bill.

In drafting this Bill, I have taken on board the major concerns of the individuals, groups, parliamentarians and professionals who have approached me on the issue. I have also ensured that the Bill is legally tight and that it provides the maximum protection for both patients, their doctors and staff.

I believe that this Bill addresses the community’s call for legislation that affords dignity, relief and comfort to people suffering from a terminal illness, as well as to their families or carers. It is my hope that the Bill will be debated by Parliament in the first half of next year.

Please see below for copies of the Voluntary Euthanasia Bill 2010 and my Second Reading Speech.   The speech is also available here.