BILL Tilley appears likely to vote against Victorian right-to-die laws due to a lack of safeguards.
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The Benambra MLA was responding to the release of the government’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill.
“Despite the government’s assurances I’m still to be convinced that this legislation has the adequate safeguards to protect the vulnerable, those with incurable cancer, progressive neurological illness, the aged and disabled,” Mr Tilley said.
“From my own experience and the advice of medical experts I know these people experience high rates of depression and isolation and are prone to make decisions in the depths of despair.
“In my opinion the risks that someone may choose assisted dying in one of these periods is too great.
“I also fear that enacting this bill will place people at risk of coercion – both active and passive.”
Mr Tilley also raised the possibility of the bill being “diluted” if enacted.
“Just three months ago the Oregon senate, the US state that featured as world’s best practice by the committee that investigated this matter, debated a bill that would allow demented patients and others with ‘mental incompetence’ to be starved to death,” Mr Tilley said.
Euroa MLA Steph Ryan is undecided.
“I do feel very torn about it at the moment,” she said.
“I can see some aspects where it will address a very murky area of the law, but then I have concerns about the gaps in palliative care which haven’t been addressed and my concern is people would end up accessing this scheme because of an under-resourcing of palliative care.”
Ovens Valley MLA Tim McCurdy said he had been swinging like a pendulum on the issue and was unlikely to make a decision until the bill was debated on the floor of parliament.
He said he had spoken on Thursday to doctors from the Australian Medical Association and Melbourne’s St Vincent’s hospital and they all opposed euthanasia and wanted more palliative care.
Ms Ryan would like the government to match the Opposition’s promise of $140 million extra funding for palliative care over four years.
The bill will be subject to a conscience vote with debate to start in mid-October.
Meanwhile, a bill for euthanasia was introduced in NSW parliament on Thursday.
Nationals MP Trevor Khan flagged the bill and became emotional as he told of the struggle to die with dignity for those with terminal illnesses.