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November 18, 2021DISTANT CARE DRAWS ST VINCENT’S ADDICTION PATIENTS CLOSER
December 3, 2021
Catholic Health Australia has condemned the decision by pro-voluntary assisted dying MPs to systematically vote down a raft of amendments designed to protect the vulnerable.
Following the passage of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill (NSW) 2021, MPs debated scores of amendments late into Thursday night and today (Friday).
Many of those amendments advanced by MPs aimed to strengthen safeguards in the Bill, among them the need for a specialist to give a diagnosis, stronger protections around decision-making capacity, the detection of coercion, and preventing health workers from initiating a discussion around VAD.
But they were routinely voted down in a block by the Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich and the Bill’s co-sponsors and supporters.
Catholic Health Australia’s Chair the Hon John Watkins AM said the Bill was now stripped of many potential safeguards.
“We are very disappointed that the Lower House has seen to vote through the Bill but what is especially regrettable is that it goes through shorn of all protections for the vulnerable,” Mr Watkins said.
“Members of Parliament put forward a number of amendments designed to ensure that whatever Bill goes forward actually has proper safeguards to protect the vulnerable from coercion and ensure people who are ineligible do not get pushed towards voluntary assisted dying.
“This Bill was weak when it went into the chamber, but what has emerged is alarming.”
Mr Watkins said, for example, that the NSW Bill has no requirement for either VAD doctor to have relevant expertise and experience in the disease, illness or medical condition expected to cause death of the person being assessed.
“That is contained in the Victorian VAD legislation and is a necessary safeguard to ensure that at least one of the two participating doctors has expertise and experience in relation to the relevant disease, illness or medical condition and treatment options.”
Notes to editors: Catholic Health Australia’s members constitute Australia’s largest non-government grouping of health and aged care services accounting for approximately 10 percent of hospital-based healthcare in Australia. Our members also provide around 25 percent of private hospital care, 5 percent of public hospital care, 12 percent of aged care facilities, and 20 percent of home care and support for the elderly.
