by Paul Russell: Ever wondered how the 'celebrity' euthanasia cases become, well, celebrity cases? Some, I imagine are simply place and time occurrences; where a well-meaning person with a terminal illness decides for themselves to use their illness to 'further a cause'. For some, like UK man, Tony Nicklinson, it is simply about their own demise and, for the likes of Brittany Maynard in the USA last year, it would appear that the media attention can become a drug of addiction.So, clearly there are those who call up a journalist off their own back and want to tell their story. Some, I have observed over the years, have spoken to the media in such a way as to make it clear, to me at least, that they had been coached by pro-euthanasia and assisted suicide campaigners in the right things to say and how to say them. Continue reading

Senator Bob Day (SA) spoke today (3rd March) against Senator Leyonhjelm's (NSW) Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015. This is the text of his speech:Like any piece of legislation, the sensible place to start is with the factsâ��the definitions. What is euthanasia? What is not euthanasia? Herein, I believe, lies great confusion in the community, particularly when asked to consider opinion polls. But before considering what euthanasia is, let us begin with defining what euthanasia is not. Continue reading

  The Federal Parliament of Australia doesn't have a great deal to do with euthanasia really. Given that, since Federation (and even earlier) the Six States each have had on their statute books their own criminal codes, matters to do with euthanasia and assisted suicide have been considered as 'states matters'. This is because such matters would create a variance in one way or another to those criminal codes.This division of powers could conceivably see any one or more states legislate for euthanasia. But not so the two Australian Territories with limited self-government. Neither of these territories existed at Federation in 1901. They were created and given limited self-government by the Commonwealth (Federal Parliament) and are, therefore, subject to the Federal Parliament. Yes, they have their own criminal code and other statutes but these exist in a manner that is subject to the Federal Parliament unlike to states who have no such dependent relationship. Continue reading

New Bill in Australian Senate Restoring Territory Rights (Assisted Suicide Legislation) Bill 2015Introduced by Senator David Leyonjelm (LDP NSW) into the Australian Senate, 2nd December 2015. Continue reading

Anyone who has read the Melbourne Age or the Sydney Morning Herald over the past few months in particular cannot help but have noticed that they've run some pro-euthanasia stories that the other media have simply ignored. In the lead up to the November State Election in Victoria, The Age declared itself pro-euthanasia in an editorial. Most will have suspected that already. They have also given oxygen to the pro-euthanasia campaign by former Coles Executive Peter Short who is dying of oesophogal cancer. Mr Short gave evidence at the Senate hearings into Senator Di Natale's draft exposure bill on euthanasia recently and has been pushing hard to try and meet with the Prime Minister Tony Abbott to talk to him about changing the law.The Senate committee considering Di Natale's bill made no recommendation on the draft exposure bill except to say that there were significant constitutional issues regarding the separation of powers that needed to be addressed and, by the way, that every member of parliament should have access to a conscience vote on this issue. This last assertion is essentially meaningless as both major parties at least have always allowed a 'free vote' on such matters. Common knowledge one would have thought; but easily forgotten when it suits. Enter The Age journalist, Kate Hagan. Continue reading

Nurses voice concerns over Dying with Dignity Bill This article by Karen Keast first appeared at the Nursing Careers Adult Health website on the 14-10-2014The Australian Greens' proposed voluntary euthanasia legislation has received a mixed response from nurses. Continue reading

Cross posted from Lives Worth Living. On Friday, 3 October 2014 Lives Worth Living Convenor Craig Wallace addressed the Senate Inquiry into the Exposure draft of the Medical Services (Dying with Dignity) Bill 2014. This is the prepared text of our opening remarks to the Inquiry:Firstly Senators thank you for this opportunity to give evidence here today and also for accepting a late and brief submission. Continue reading

  A group of West Australian Palliative Care Specialists has told a Senate Inquiry into euthanasia that they do not want to be put in the position of having to end patients' lives.The West Australian newspaper says that, 'members of the WA Palliative Medicine Specialists Group, which includes doctors from the State's major hospitals, worry that legalising euthanasia would change society's attitude to matters of life and death.' Continue reading

  I'm not normally one for remembering anniversaries (with apologies to my darling wife, Anne. Ouch!)  Continue reading