{"id":3844,"date":"2017-07-25T20:54:15","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T12:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exitinternational.net\/?p=3844"},"modified":"2017-07-25T20:54:15","modified_gmt":"2017-07-25T12:24:15","slug":"euthanasia-plan-not-enough-says-philip-nitschke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euthanasia.net\/exit\/euthanasia-plan-not-enough-says-philip-nitschke\/","title":{"rendered":"Euthanasia plan not enough, says Philip Nitschke"},"content":{"rendered":"

Victoria\u2019s voluntary euthanasia plan does not go far enough to \u00adaddress the needs of an ageing population demanding more control over how they die, \u00adaccording to euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke applauded the government\u2019s attempt to create what will be the country\u2019s only program giving terminal patients the right to die, but said the model overlooked the largest demographic calling for reform.<\/p>\n

The government released a \u00adreport last week outlining a voluntary assisted-suicide program open only to patients of sound mind who are suffering an \u00adincurable terminal disease likely to kill them within a year.<\/p>\n

Patients with dementia cannot access the program, and patients with mental illness or a disability cannot apply for access based on those conditions alone.<\/p>\n

The report, written by former Australian Medical Association president Brian Owler, and billed as the most conservative euthanasia model in the world, will form the backbone of legislation to be put to a parliamentary vote this year.<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke said the proposed euthanasia model was significant, but said its strict entry requirements meant the vast bulk of Australians requesting the right to die wouldn\u2019t be able to access it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very heavily medicalised piece of legislation. The argument is it has to be like that in order to get through state parliament, but it\u2019s not really going to address the growing clamour of an ageing population who want choices,\u201d Dr Nitschke told The Australian.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis idea of having to wait to be sick enough to comply with the requirements and then having to ask for permission doesn\u2019t fit with the growing sentiment of most elderly Australians. There\u2019s going to be so many people who simply won\u2019t be able to comply with these rigorous prerequisites.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Nitschke will be in Australia next month to conduct a six-week national roadshow teaching ageing Australians how to take control of their end-of-life plans.<\/p>\n

The roadshow has already sold more than 1000 tickets.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to be the ones making the decision about when they die,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019re people generally described as the \u2018well elderly\u2019 who want to make sure they\u2019ve got their own safety net.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Former palliative care nurse and Exit International supporter Cath Ringwood, 67, is furious the scheme is open only to patients with fewer than 12 months to live. The Melbourne mother has battled leukaemia for 20 years and breast cancer for eight years, and is in near-constant pain.<\/p>\n

\"Cath<\/a><\/p>\n

Her illness is unlikely to kill her within the next 12 months, but low immunity means she is susceptible to pneumonia and other potentially fatal infections.<\/p>\n

She says an assisted-suicide scheme would give her a sense of confidence to fight the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will most likely die of pneumonia and that\u2019s a horrible death. I\u2019d like to be discharged with a peaceful pill and I could choose whether or not to take it,\u201d she said. \u201cWho\u2019s to say what\u2019s an \u00adintolerable level of suffering?\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Victoria\u2019s voluntary euthanasia plan does not go far enough to \u00adaddress the needs of an ageing population demanding more control over how they die, \u00adaccording to euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke. Dr Nitschke applauded the government\u2019s attempt to create what will be the country\u2019s only program giving terminal patients the right to die, but said the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n