Reject Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

I write to urge you to oppose any moves by pro-Voluntary Assisted Dying organisations for a euthanasia bill to be introduced in NSW.

Legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide sends an appalling message to the young about the value of human life. Where there is life there is hope. End-of-Life issues are complex and should not lumped under a slogan such as ‘Choice’ which only demeans life.

The role of doctors and medical professionals is to save lives – not end them. Euthanasia and assisted suicide should therefore not be considered a component of medical treatment as it goes against the Hippocratic Oath being one of the oldest binding documents in history.

Instead of allowing the killing of patients, NSW should focus on providing better care for the vulnerable and the frail and a vision and a plan for the development of health services where the needs of all in NSW are met. We argue strongly that the role of the State of NSW lies in the extension and promotion of palliative care services not promoting death. There is ample evidence to show that palliative care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.

One step which should be taken is to increase the number of palliative care doctors so that NSW reaches Palliative Care Australia’s benchmark ratio of 2 per 100,000. The right to life, which the State is obliged to vindicate, is a right which implies that a citizen is living as a vital human component in the social, political and moral order posited by human rights.

Legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, along with any support measures that will make euthanasia and assisted suicide a ‘choice’ is morally unthinkable.