Euthanasia

In general tems, euthanasia, or voluntary assisted dying, is a deliberate act intended to cause the death of a patient, at that patient's request, for what he or she sees as being in his or her best interest. Because a request for euthanasia is necessarily at the request of a patient, a request for euthanasia is a right that all individuals should enjoy. 
In Australia, as in many other parts of the world, such issues are hotly debated. Regrettably, many people suffer as a result of government policies that are driven primarily, unfortunately, by religious ideology. 
The Euthanasia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), found at the link below, provides answers to the most commonly asked voluntary assisted dying related questions. The Ethical Rights and Exit ACT submission to the ACT Government, and a related YouTube video, below, make a strong case for a human rights based model of voluntary assisted dying that respects individual autonomy. 

YouTube video on Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACT

David Swanton, in his capacity as Exit ACT chapter leader, presented to the University of the 3rd Age (U3A) on the ACT's (Australian Capital Territory) Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act 2024. The video of this Zoom presentation on Voluntary Assisted Dying was recorded on 18 June 2024 . 
The presentation (about 25 min) and questions and answers (about 35 min) are primarily concerned with the Act's ethical merit and eligibility criteria. The presentation is aimed at challenging people to think smarter and better and to advocate for VAD regulatory systems that support the right of all people with decision making capacity to choose VAD. 
A strong case is made for VAD legislation that better respects human rights and individual autonomy. The ethics of VAD are discussed as well as the problems associated with the Australian medical model for VAD. The Exit ACT submission to the ACT Select Committee on Voluntary Assisted Dying is available at links in the channel description and in the text below.

Submission to ACT Select Committee on Voluntary Assisted Dying 2023

An Ethical Rights and Exit ACT joint paper on Voluntary Assisted Dying (7 December 2023) details the issues with the ACT's Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2023. The paper was written in response to the introduction of the Bill into the ACT Legislative Assembly. The paper is also available without some of its appendices here, ACT Select Committee on Voluntary Assisted Dying 2023. Those appendices, including the 3 April 2023 submission (below), as well as the Summary Report and Results of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Survey 2021, are available elsewhere on this website.  

While the introduction of the Bill should be commended, the discrimination in the draft Bill is apparent. If individual autonomy is a priority—and it ought to be—then no person with voluntary assisted dying decision making capacity should be excluded from accessing voluntary assisted dying. Moreover, limiting voluntary assisted dying to terminally ill, adult ACT residents is ethically equivalent to limiting abortion to raped women only, organ transplants to adults only, and restricting medical services to only residents, but not refugees. All people can suffer, and all people should be able to have their suffering mitigated, consistent with their choices. 

Submission on Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACT 2023

A 3 April 2023 paper advocating the Human Rights Model for Voluntary Assisted Dying was developed in response to a consultation process on voluntary assisted dying in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The paper, Voluntary Assisted Dying in the ACT 2023, is included without its appendices (the Summary Report and Results of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Survey 2021 are available elsewhere on this website).  

Submission on End of Life Choices 2018

A Submission on End of Life Choices to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly is concerned with the right of every adult of sound mind to have choice in his or her end-of-life decision-making and to implement plans for their end-of-life so that their death is reliable, peaceful and at a time of their choosing. The submission’s key messages outline an ethical framework for voluntary assisted dying. 

Appendix 3 of the End of Life Choices submission is included in the links below. 

Euthanasia paper for Australian Senate 2014

The 2018 paper above has drawn on a submission to the Australian Senate's Inquiry into the Exposure Draft of the Medical Services (Dying with Dignity) Bill 2014 and a submission to the Australian Senate's Inquiry into the Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal Bill) 2008.