Canberran’s deserve the right to a good death. This is one of the trickiest bits of legislation we have, but also one of the most important.
Voluntary assisted dying laws allow for people with certain medical criteria the right to end their life on their own terms. There is dignity and compassion in this. I support Canberra’s VAD laws as a positive first step. We aren’t done yet, though we must tread carefully.
Current VAD limitations
To access VAD in Canberra, a person must meet several criteria. They must:
- have a terminal condition,
- be in the last stages of life,
- be suffering, and
- have the cognative capacity to make the decision to die.
These are a decent starting point, but they leave people needlesly suffering. I support exploring ways to expand our VAD laws.
Someone should be able to access VAD in circumstances where they have lost decision-making capacity or the ability to communicate, but where there has been a prior voluntary directive – established when the individual did have capacity – indicating they wished to access VAD.
Protections from VAD
Accessing voluntary assisted dying needs to have strong protections. Many people who are excluded by the above criteria are vulnerable. They may have a disability that impedes their ability to object to VAD when it is against their wishes. Elderly people need protection from inheritence or other elder abuse.
These protections can be at odds with people who at some stage wanted to access VAD, but may no longer. This is a tricky policy space and the consequences of getting it wrong are literally fatal. I do believe we can work with stakeholders to achieve good policy. In this case, good policy will respect and protect our most vulnerable, and ensure that everyone has access to medical treatment that they need.
Actions
- I support exploring ways to expand VAD legisation in Canberra.
- I will not compromise on protections for people with disabilities.