Voluntary Euthanasia Policy

Principles

The Greens NSW:

1. Believe voluntary euthanasia is a fundamental human right;

2. Are committed to the proposition that individuals have a right to choose to die with dignity, to bring an end to the pain and suffering they may endure on their death-bed provided they are psychologically capable of doing so, are not placed under duress and that proper processes and safeguards have been followed;

3. Believe euthanasia is bringing about the painless death, in a humane manner, of a person suffering an incurable disease or condition and who voluntarily requests that their life be terminated;

4. Do not support involuntary euthanasia or legislation being used on vulnerable people who are not necessarily suffering from pain but appear to have miserable, poor quality lives such as the very old, severely mentally ill people or those with severe disabilities;

5. Do not support any sort of pressure being placed on vulnerable people who may feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request an early death;

6. Believe that voluntary euthanasia is justified because it puts an end to the terrible suffering sometimes endured by the 5% of terminally ill patients for whom palliative care is ineffective or inappropriate;

7. Believe that allowing a person to suffer when nothing can be done to relieve the pain and suffering and when the person wants to end their life is cruel and inhumane;

8. Recognise that, due to advances in modern medicine, many individuals find themselves facing a prolonged disintegration of their self-integrity both physically and psychologically;

9. Believe that individuals have the freedom and right to make self-governing choices; and

10. Note that in 1994 a Time Morgan Poll found that 71% of Australian supported voluntary euthanasia and in 2001 a South Australian Advertiser poll found that 78% of South Australians support voluntary euthanasia legislation.

Detail

11. The Greens NSW support legalisation of voluntary euthanasia, subject to strict conditions which must be fulfilled before euthanasia is carried out, including:

• 11.1 The patient must be 18 years of age or over;

• 11.2 The patient must have a terminal illness;

• 11.3 The terminal illness must be causing the patient severe pain or suffering;

• 11.4 The patient must be informed by a medical practitioner of the nature of the illness (diagnosis), the likely course of the illness (prognosis) and the medical treatment available;

• 11.5 The only treatment available only relieves the pain or suffering and is not acceptable to the patient;

• 11.6 The patient has considered the possible effect of their decision on their family;

• 11.7 A second medical practitioner, with special qualifications relating to the terminal illness of the patient, must examine the patient and confirm to the patient’s doctor and the patient that he/she agrees with the diagnosis and prognosis;

• 11.8 The patient must be seen by a suitably qualified professional, trained to recognise mental illness (such as a psychiatrist or psychologist but not limited to these), to ensure the patient is not suffering from a treatable clinical depression or another mental illness which might impair their judgment;

• 11.9 Information about palliative care options must be given to the patient by a doctor with special qualifications in palliative care;

• 11.10 An interpreter must be used if any of the doctors do not share the patient’s first language;

• 11.11 Having obtained the second medical and psychiatric opinions, and having considered the palliative care options, the patient must confirm to the doctor that he or she wants assistance;

• 11.12 The patient must then wait at least 7 days before signing a Request Form which must also be signed by his or her medical practitioner, a second doctor and any interpreter;

• 11.13 The patient must then wait at least 48 hours before the medical assistance can be provided;

• 11.14 Any person who attempts to influence a doctor to assist, or not assist a patient to end his or her life can be fined $10,000; and

• 11.15 Any person who improperly causes another to sign or witness a Request Form may be fined $20,000 or imprisoned for 4 years.