QUEENSLAND SHOULD INTRODUCE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO PALLIATIVE CARE BEFORE ASSISTED SUICIDE LAWS

Catholic not-for-profit hospitals and aged care providers are urging legislators to think very carefully about giving the green light to assisted suicide laws in Queensland when so few people across the state have access to palliative care.

Peak body Catholic Health Australia is calling on MPs to improve the access to and quality of palliative care services across the state before they enable Queenslanders to take their own lives.

Currently the Queensland State Government is spending a quarter of what the Australian Medical Association estimates is needed each year to provide a proper palliative care service to all Queenslanders.

“Parliamentarians must first understand how modern models of care can manage pain for patients with a terminal illness,” CHA CEO Pat Garcia said.

“When advocates for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) frame this as a choice between pain and death, it reduces a very complex and emotional process to a false dichotomy. Queenslanders should not be forced to choose between pain and death.

“Today, medical science can provide Queenslanders with another more compassionate path – a way that supports living and gives people additional precious moments with loved ones.
We ask Parliamentarians to think very carefully before taking the next step toward assisted suicide.”

CHA members are opposed to voluntary assisted dying and have made it clear to the Queensland Law Reform Commission that many clinicians do not want to intentionally inflict death on patients, nor assist patients or residents to take their own lives.

Mr Garcia said that should the Bill pass he was pleased that the right for health professionals to conscientiously object to participating in assisted dying will be extended to the hospitals and aged care services that employ them.

“Voluntary should mean voluntary – no person or organisation should be forced to act against their conscience. Hospitals and aged care facilities rely on a common set of values that binds them together – it’s called a community of practice.

“We are pleased that the Hon Justice Peter Applegarth AM, the Queensland Law Reform Commission in Queensland, and the State Government have recognised the importance of conscientious objection. The community, staff, and operators will be left in no doubt as to who will offer assisted dying and who will not.”

CHA will review the Bill and examine what safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable from coercion or manipulation.

Notes to editors: In Queensland CHA members include; BallyCara Aged Care, Centacare Brisbane, Mater Misericordiae Ltd, and St Vincent’s Health Australia, Francis of Assisi Home, Mercy Community Services, St Vincent’s Community Services, Southern Cross Care, Ozcare, Holy Spirit Care Services, Mercy Community Services, St Vincent’s Care Services, Canossa Services, St Paul de Chartres Residential Aged Care, St Vincent de Paul Queensland, Villa McAuley Retirement Village. Between them they provide about one in five hospital and aged care beds in Queensland.