BY JAMES CARTER
Draft legislation has been released by Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper which would see voluntary assisted dying legislation introduced in New South Wales.
Mr Piper co-drafted and co-sponsored the bill with his colleague Independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich.
Mr Greenwich sent the bill to all members of parliament on Monday and is expected to be tabled in parliament in August.
Mr Piper said the proposed legislation contains strong safeguards around access, administration and exemptions for health professionals with conscientious or faith-based objections.
"You have to be terminal, that has to be agreed by a number of health officers, there is checks and balances to make sure the person is of sound mind and there is no coercion."
"Just having the provision there will actually ease people's anxiety, we don't actually believe we will see more people taking up the option as such but it certainly takes away a lot of anxiety as they approach their end of days". Mr Piper said.
Hunter Labor MP's have expressed their support for the legislation, with Tim Crackanthorp and Jodie Harrison co-sponsoring the bill when it is tabled.
Mr Piper says numerous surveys showed 80 per cent of the community backed the assisted dying laws.
"I think the parliament has been lagging well behind community support for some years now"
"We will have to wait and see how the debate pans out" said Mr Piper.
To access VAD, a person must be an adult, an Australian citizen, a NSW resident, and be diagnosed with a terminal illness that will cause death within 12 months for neurodegenerative conditions, or six months for other terminal conditions.
The Bill includes protections for doctors, all health workers and others who have a conscientious or religious objection to VAD. These protections are extended to faith-based entities such as a nursing home with religious affiliations.
The Bill includes robust safeguards which ensure that a person is acting voluntarily and not under duress or pressure by another person. There is a range of high penalties included in the Bill, including life imprisonment for the unauthorised administration of the substance and seven years in prison for someone who induces another to apply for VAD.
