A NORTH East MP believes most people are supportive of a planned euthanasia law, however the region’s politicians are undecided on how they will vote on the matter.
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Tim McCurdy was speaking amid increasing debate in Victoria and NSW over bills to legalise voluntary-assisted dying in each state.
The member for Ovens Valley and colleagues Benambra MLA Bill Tilley and Euroa MLA Steph Ryan are canvassing electoral feedback before an expected conscience vote in parliament.
Member for Albury Greg Aplin said he would do likewise before a division in his parliament.
“This sort of thing would really be better addressed at a national level, rather than state level because inevitably it will lead to anomalies,” Mr Aplin said.
Mr McCurdy said he had conversed with a palliative care group at Numurkah and planned to speak to a similar organisation at Yarrawonga.
“The people I’ve spoken to that have personal experience are all very supportive of the bill, those who have nursed or supported an elder because they believe it has enough checks and balances and there’s a choice,” he said.
“That makes a lot of people comfortable to know there is some choice.
“I think the majority of people are supportive of the bill as it is, but there’s churches and individuals that aren’t supportive.”
Mr Tilley, in a Facebook video, says it is premature to give his view and outlines a series of practical concerns.
“What drugs will be used?” Mr Tilley asks.
“What will they cost?
“Who pays?
“Who will foot the bill for training doctors and pharmacists in the process and the additional cost of meeting the statutory requirements?”
Needing two doctors approve a bid for euthanasia was also seen as potentially problematic in remote areas.
“In an isolated country town how does a terminally ill patient access a second medical assessment or indeed the first if the doctor in that town conscientiously objects to assisted dying?” Mr Tilley pondered.
Mr Aplin declined to say whether he thought the NSW proposal would succeed, given it has cross-party backers unlike an earlier Greens bill.
“As a conscience vote you don’t know how individuals will vote and there will be a whole range of considerations raised, be they medical, legal, religious or moral,” he said.
“They will have to be taken into account.”