Author: Cathy Pares
On 19 May 2022, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2021 was passed through the New South Wales Parliament. The Bill was introduced by independent MP Alex Greenwich following suit with Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland who have all passed similar legislation in.
The Bill will allow adults with an advanced and progressive terminal illness who have decision-making capacity to consent to the administration of lethal drugs to end their suffering. This choice will only be available to those whose illness will cause their death within six months, or twelve months in the case of patients with neurodegenerative conditions. The Bill will allow patients to choose whether they would like to self-administer the lethal drugs, or whether they would like this to be done by a health practitioner.
It will take up to eighteen months for this Bill to come into effect. During this time, it is likely that the NSW Government will initiate a training scheme for doctors willing to take part to assist those eligible for voluntary assisted dying and to implement sufficient oversight.
The passing of the Bill ends a twenty-year long debate in the New South Wales Parliament as to whether voluntary assisted dying should be legalised in the state. Advocacy organisations Dying with Dignity NSW and Go Gentle Australia have been prominent voices in the debate, campaigning that those with terminal illness should not have to undergo prolonged suffering.
In a statement, Go Gentle Australia thanked it supporters with this statement:
This is a revolution in end-of-life care, and an evolution in compassion… This celebratory moment is also tinged with sadness as we remember the many individuals, loved ones and carers for whom this law did not come soon enough.
The Bill has been well-received by the terminally ill community and their families, who have welcomed the change. For MP Emma Hurst, the Bill had personal significance, as her terminally ill father had long questioned when the Bill would be passed. Although he did not have the opportunity, the Bill will soon allow patients in his position to choose when they die, and to die with dignity.
Similar laws are yet to be introduced in the Northern Territory and the ACT.
Want to find out more about voluntary assisted dying reform? Chat to the Law Office of Conrad Curry today by clicking here.
