NT Politician Wants to Change His Party's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
Topic: Euthanasia
Tanzil Rahman will propose changes to the Rights of Terminally Ill Bill.
In short:
Northern Territory MLA Tanzil Rahman plans to change his party's Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill.
The bill will make voluntary assisted dying legal in the NT, the last place in Australia where it is not allowed.
What's next?
Mr Rahman will propose the changes this month.
A Northern Territory government member wants to change his party's bill to make voluntary assisted dying legal in the Territory.
Country Liberal Party MLA Tanzil Rahman will propose three changes to the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill.
The bill will likely pass the NT parliament because most members support it.
The NT is the last place in Australia where voluntary assisted dying is not legal.
The bill only allows people with 12 months or less to live to get voluntary assisted dying.
Marie-Clare Boothby proposed the laws to the NT Legislative Assembly last month.
In other Australian states, people must have six to 12 months or less to live to get voluntary assisted dying.
The NT bill says healthcare professionals cannot start conversations about voluntary assisted dying with patients.
This goes against a report by a parliamentary inquiry led by Dr Rahman.
Tanzil Rahman says his changes are consistent with best practice.
Dr Rahman's changes would remove the 12-month limit and allow healthcare workers to talk to patients about voluntary assisted dying.
It would also stop care facilities from refusing to give information about voluntary assisted dying.
Many regional patients in Victoria do not get the same end-of-life care as others.
Dr Rahman is proposing the changes to help Territorians and follow best practice.
The changes would give terminally ill people more freedom to choose voluntary assisted dying.
Dr Rahman is happy to be part of a government that is making progress on voluntary assisted dying laws.
Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the government believes in giving members the freedom to vote with their conscience.
Seniors advocacy group supports changes
The Council on the Ageing NT chief executive supports the changes but has other concerns.
If the changes pass, it would be great, but the group does not want the process to be delayed.
We just want it done and dusted. Territorians have waited since 1997 for this.
Sue Shearer supports the changes but wants the laws to pass without delay.
Ms Shearer said doctors can have objections to voluntary assisted dying, but it should not affect their patients.
Doctors should be able to tell patients about their choices at the end of life.
If the changes do not pass, Ms Shearer hopes the government will review the laws in the future.
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