November 23, 2017

Nitschke says Victorian euthanasia bill ‘unworkable’

Philip Nitschke has described the Victorian government’s voluntary assisted dying bill as the “world’s most unworkable end-of-life law” as he warned the legislation would not satisfy all those seeking ­assisted suicide.

The country’s leading proponent for assisted dying and head of Exit International congratulated the Victorian government for passing the bill through the upper house, but warned the “conservative” bill was behind world standards.

“It’s a great achievement by the Victorian government, and they should be congratulated for the way they went about it, to break the logjam we spent 22 years fighting,” he said.

“The downside is what they had to do is pass a piece of legislation which is, as they say, the world’s most conservative. It’s one of the world’s most unworkable end-of-life laws, which really won’t ­address the needs of a growing number of people who want control at the end of life.

“It’s not going to change the growing demand by elderly people to have access to their own choice.”

However, Dr Nitschke said the changes would send a clear message to other states to enact similar laws.

“Australian society is changing. But it’s a long way to go to catch up to the rest of the world,’’ he said.

“We led the world in Northern Territory in 1996; we are now 20 years behind these changes and Australia is pretty much back in the dark ages with these pieces of little embryonic steps.’’

The former president of the Victorian arm of the Australian Medical Association Stephen ­Parnis, who has led a public campaign urging the parliament to ­reject the legislation, said he was concerned vulnerable people would not be inadequately protected.

“I suppose not just for me, but the MPs, the doctors, the many community activists who oppose these laws, it’s a profound disappointment. Ultimately we weren’t successful,” he said.

“This is going to become law and we hope that our fears for the system will ultimately be proved wrong. But time will tell.

“I say to the Premier and Minister for Health: it’s incumbent on you to use all of the authority at your disposal to enhance the palliative care as a matter of urgency. Without that sort of system in place, people dying don’t have the choice you want to offer.’’

Victorian AMA head Lorraine Baker said she recognised the changes marked a “significant shift in medical practice in Victoria” that would cause anguish for members of the profession.

“AMA Victoria will now focus on ensuring that the legislation’s implementation process and regulations, in particular of the VAD substance and its controls, are correct, robust and safe for the medical profession and our patients,” she said.

The Australian Christian Lobby last night vowed to fight the scheme, in a campaign targeting lower house MPs ahead of the next state election next November.