A bill which will allow ‘voluntary assisted dying’ has passed the lower house in the state of Victoria, Australia, after a debate which lasted more than 24 hours.
Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
The framework for the ‘Assisted Dying Bill’, developed by medical, legal, palliative care and disability experts, has previously been outlined on this blog. The framework was developed over three years in line with a parliamentary committee that considered the input of over 1,000 Victorians. In July of this year the Government accepted the recommendations of the expert panel and developed legislation to be introduced into parliament. The bill was debated yesterday and overnight. 141 clauses were debated, with more than 300 amendments proposed. Issues raised during the debate included the suggestion of a recorded final consent, and subsequent discussion around what form the recording would take.
Other proposed amendments called for public disclosure of euthanasia statistics, prohibitions around advertising, and reducing the eligibility criteria to those with six months to live rather than 12. Concerns were raised that allowing ‘assisted dying’ in Victoria, would lead to ‘euthanasia tourism’.
Some MPs expressed that the proposed amendments were a tactic to draw out the process and delay the vote, but it eventually passed 47 votes to 37.
The bill is expected to be debated in the Upper House in two weeks.