{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F6580b1b1-80ad-43a8-ad70-a5462355d9ca","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Episode 191 \u2013 Voluntary Assisted Dying in Qld","description":"
\nThe Queensland Parliament is considering introducing Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) legislation and has set up an inquiry into End of Life choices.
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\nDying With Dignity Queensland Inc (DWDQ) wants you to understand the issues and hopefully make a submission requesting that VAD laws be introduced.
\nIn this episode of the podcast we interview Phil Browne, who is a DWDQ committee member and Dr Craig Glasby, a retired GP and member of DWDQ.
\nFirstly – some info about Phil and the DWDQ committee
\nPhil is a registered nurse and has worked in a large hospice for 7 years.
\nDWDQ has an eight member committee. Five of these eight committee members are either currently practicing, or retired, doctors or registered nurses.
\nBetween these five health professionals, they have:
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\n* 218 years front-line patient care experience, consisting of …
\n* Palliative care (37 years total), oncology, general practice, intensive care, general and specialist hospital wards and aged care, as well as …
\n* Established a Palliative Care service at a major Brisbane hospital, plus \u2026
\n* Trained junior doctors in managing End of Life situations for patients and family, plus they have …
\n* Provided End-of-Life care in the final stages leading to the deaths of approximately 7,600 patients with advanced and progressive terminal, chronic or neurodegenerative conditions
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\nHistory
\nAustralia-wide there have been over 30 bills introduced in different state/Territory parliaments to legalise VAD. With the exception of two of these bills, all the others have been defeated (many by a mere 1 or 2 votes).
\n1. The NT legalised VAD in the 1990s. Multiple people took advantage of the law before the federal govt overturned the NT law one year later.
\n2. The Victorian parliament passed their Voluntary Assisted Dying Act. 2017. There is an 18 month period prior to the law taking effect. From June 2019 eligible Victorian residents will be able to access VAD.
\nIn recent years Parliamentary inquiries into End of Life issues have been/are being conducted in three states to specifically examine if VAD should be legalised and if so, to determine the characteristics of future legislation.
\nVictoria and WA have completed their inquiries, and the Qld inquiry has just commenced (AND WANTS TO HEAR OUR VIEWS!)
\nOther State Inquiries Have Exposed Problems With End Of Life Choices
\nBoth Victoria and WA have held Parliamentary inquiries into End of Life Choices.
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\n* Victorian Parliament, Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee \u2013 Inquiry into end of life choices report, June 2016\u00a0
\n* Western Australian Parliament Joint Select Committee on End of Life Choices \u2013 My Life, My Choice report, August 2018
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\nBoth the Victorian report and the WA report revealed some key findings:
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\n* Confirmation from palliative care experts that palliative care cannot relieve suffering in all cases.
\n* Confirmation from state Coroners of approximately one suicide weekly (frequently by hanging/shooting) in each state, of a person with a terminal/irreversible health condition. A report from the WA Coroner’s Office noted that this accounted for 13.9% of suicides in Western Australia.
\n* Recommendations that voluntary assisted dying be legalised in both Victoria and Western Australia.
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