A recent vote in the WA Legislative Council (the Upper House) has provided a legislative guarantee that regional and remote residents in WA are entitled to the same access to euthanasia and assisted suicide as metropolitan residents.  A subsequent vote decided against providing a commensurate legislative guarantee that they are entitled to access palliative care, no matter where they live in the state. Continue reading

Usually when the expansion of euthanasia and assisted suicide over time is discussed, it is looked at from a legal perspective, that is, considering how initially narrow categories of those eligible for euthanasia are expanded overtime in the law. Continue reading

“About a week or two before Mom passed away, her doctor stopped in to check on her. Mom was in some discomfort and the doctor suggested she could quicken the process to end her suffering, alluding to euthanasia. When I came to visit shortly after, Mom told me about the doctor’s visit. She had a look of confusion on her face and was very unsettled. I could just imagine the thoughts that assaulted her mind. Maybe this is too much for the kids?  Maybe they’re tired of caring for me? Maybe I’m just a financial burden to society? Am I safe in this place or do they want to end my life? All very horrible thoughts for someone already so vulnerable and weak. I assured her that none of that was true and left it at that, although I was very angry at the doctor.” Continue reading

“We have been told about people who have walked into an aged care residence, frail but in relatively good spirits and mentally alert, only to die a few months later after suffering from falls, serious pressure injuries and significant pain and distress. We have seen images of people with maggots feeding in open sores and we have seen video and photographic evidence of outright abuse. Continue reading

An important message from 150 Western Australian medical practitioners to the WA parliament. Continue reading

Despite intense lobbying from pro-euthanasia activists, the World Medical Association has, once again, reiterated its opposition to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.   Continue reading

More than 770 medical professionals involved in end of life care or the treatment of those with significant illness have written to members of the West Australian Legislative Council to challenge “misinformation” used by euthanasia advocates in the push for passing the laws in the state. Continue reading

Organ donation is a medical practice that is almost universally supported as a public good in and of itself. It allows a very sick person whose own organs are failing to be given a second chance at life, through the donation of organs from the body of a person who is recently deceased. Continue reading

The potential euthanasia death of a 23-year old woman in Belgium who is physically healthy but suffering from mental health demonstrates the risks of doctors being able to initiate conversations about euthanasia and assisted suicide with their patients. Continue reading

The “independent” chair of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying in Western Australia and a number of the other members of the Panel appear to have turned from ministerial advisors to euthanasia lobbyists as the WA Parliament continues its debate over euthanasia and assisted suicide. Continue reading