DWDACT Bulletin – October 2012
This final bulletin rounds up the events of the year. We look forward to a great deal of political activity in the new year. Have a happy December and best wishes for the new year from Dying with Dignity ACT Inc.
Vote on euthanasia
Richard Willingham’s article on voluntary euthanasia (”Greens set to rejoin battle for voluntary euthanasia”, November 19, p1) raises many personal, ethical, legal and political questions. While possibly the majority of the population is in favour, legislation has hitherto been blocked by religious, legal and medical objections, although many doctors follow…
Complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission
DWDACT has lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission about Federal and territory government agencies because we believe: We are being discriminated against because of our age; Our human rights are being breached by a federal government agency You can read the complaint here » …Update The…
Letter from Ludwig Minelli
Ludwig Minelli , director of Dignitas wrote to John Todd, then President of Dying with Dignity Qld in 2011 about the effect of Swiss law on assisted suicide and how it might be used to improve life and death for people who want to die. We have included his letter…
A comparison of the various features of approaches to assisted dying
DWDACT has prepared a quick comparison of the various features of approaches to assisted dying in the ACT, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland the USA and Northern Territory Click to view the table » …
Perron says ‘no’ to conscience vote on euthanasia
The architect of Australia’s first euthanasia laws, Marshall Perron, says there should not be a conscience vote on lifting the ban on territories legalising euthanasia, as it is a territories’ rights issue. Greens senator Richard Di Natale, a doctor, will introduce legislation to the Senate next Monday to wind back…
Greens try to overturn ban on euthanasia
EUTHANASIA will be thrust on to the national agenda again with the Greens set to introduce laws that would overturn a ban on the territories legalising the controversial practice. Greens senator Richard Di Natale, a doctor, will today announce that the party is drafting legislation that would wind back a…
Talk for Alzheimer’s Australia ACT Dementia Network – End of Life Care Planning for People with Dementia
My talk today is in three parts: It’s designed to ask you to think about why we need law reform in relation to death. I am arguing that we currently have no control over the end of our lives and this is due to the law. How we die is…
Corbell rejects assisted death move
The ACT government has knocked back a bid for an inquiry into whether legal prohibitions on assisted suicide contradict the Territory’s Human Rights Act. Lobby group Dying with Dignity ACT was officially registered in July and supports the concept of ”elective death”, where adults could seek assistance to die at…
Legislation Prohibiting Assisted Suicide should be a thing of the Past
When it comes to dying and death we live in a Victorian world. Our thinking and behaviours about how we should die are conditioned by laws passed and largely unchanged since the life of Queen Victoria. In the Australian Capital Territory the legislation on assisting suicide is outlined in sections…
The incompatibility of the Human Rights Act and the Crimes Act
A letter to the ACT Attorney General and others drawing attention to the human rights of those wishing to die and the current limitations of the law.