I found this article yesterday:
www.sbs.com.au
While I'm glad this new legislation came in force yesterday and it is a positive step towards the right to die movement, there are a couple things I disagree with. It only applies to Victoria and you have to be terminally ill with less than 6 months to live (12 months for neurodegenerative diseases). Not only that, but on Tuesday evening (AEST) there were about 50 prolife activists protesting against this legislation. I mean, I hate how voluntary euthanasia HAS to be restricted ONLY for the terminally ill. What about non-terminal people who are suffering greatly, such as people confined to a lifetime in a wheelchair, people living in chronic pain (a lot of doctors these days are reluctant to prescribe opioid painkillers and since 1st February last year, codeine became prescription only in Australia) or even debilitating old age or mental illness (in some cases)? What about their "right to die with dignity"? It's sad places like Exit International have to exist to advise Australian seniors on how to take matters into their own hands and end their own lives with dignity because they're not allowed to exit life unless they're terminally ill with less than 6 months to live (not to mention their attempt to ctb is thwarted if they're found alive). Regardless, I'm still happy this legislation came in force yesterday (despite the prolife protesters, I'm glad their protests ended in vain) because it's a positive step towards the right to die movement. Hopefully one day in the future voluntary euthanasia would become legal countrywide for Aussies (not just strictly for the terminally ill, but also for non-terminal people who are suffering greatly and wish to end their misery, such as people who are confined to a lifetime in a wheelchair, people living in chronic pain, etc and do not wish to continue living a life with permanent disability, chronic pain or whatever it is that makes them want to end their misery, however I don't see that happening in a generally prolife society, unfortunately).
Voluntary euthanasia is now legal in Victoria
Terminally-ill Victorians can now legally ask their doctors for lethal drugs under Australia's only euthanasia laws.
www.sbs.com.au
While I'm glad this new legislation came in force yesterday and it is a positive step towards the right to die movement, there are a couple things I disagree with. It only applies to Victoria and you have to be terminally ill with less than 6 months to live (12 months for neurodegenerative diseases). Not only that, but on Tuesday evening (AEST) there were about 50 prolife activists protesting against this legislation. I mean, I hate how voluntary euthanasia HAS to be restricted ONLY for the terminally ill. What about non-terminal people who are suffering greatly, such as people confined to a lifetime in a wheelchair, people living in chronic pain (a lot of doctors these days are reluctant to prescribe opioid painkillers and since 1st February last year, codeine became prescription only in Australia) or even debilitating old age or mental illness (in some cases)? What about their "right to die with dignity"? It's sad places like Exit International have to exist to advise Australian seniors on how to take matters into their own hands and end their own lives with dignity because they're not allowed to exit life unless they're terminally ill with less than 6 months to live (not to mention their attempt to ctb is thwarted if they're found alive). Regardless, I'm still happy this legislation came in force yesterday (despite the prolife protesters, I'm glad their protests ended in vain) because it's a positive step towards the right to die movement. Hopefully one day in the future voluntary euthanasia would become legal countrywide for Aussies (not just strictly for the terminally ill, but also for non-terminal people who are suffering greatly and wish to end their misery, such as people who are confined to a lifetime in a wheelchair, people living in chronic pain, etc and do not wish to continue living a life with permanent disability, chronic pain or whatever it is that makes them want to end their misery, however I don't see that happening in a generally prolife society, unfortunately).
