Two prominent members of the Griffith community have presented opposing views on a controversial move to legalise assisted dying in NSW.
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The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill will be subject to a conscience vote in NSW state Parliament on September 21, after two years of consultation by the NSW Parliamentary Working Group on Assisted Dying.
If passed, it would give terminally ill patients aged over 25 with less the 12 months to live, the right to request and receive assistance to end their lives with medical help if they are experiencing severe pain, suffering or incapacity.
The Bill includes safeguards to ensure that all these criteria are met, and to protect those who might be vulnerable to exploitation or manipulation.
Yvonne Wilson, CEO of Linking Communities, and Griffith Councillor Anne Napoli have presented their personal opinions on the issue, which are not necessarily shared by the organisations they represent.
“My personal opinion is that as long as the are able to make that informed decision, they should be allowed to make that decision,” Ms Wilson said.
“I don’t think that level of pain and suffering should be a part of life, it shouldn’t define us, and no-one should suffer or see someone suffer to that extent.”
Coming from a Christian standpoint, Anne Napoli believes we shouldn’t be “playing God” by allowing people to decide to end a life.
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“I have my own moral views, my Christian views about life and I feel life needs to be respected, and when God needs us he will call us,” Ms Napoli said.
She says the intention here is not to kill the suffering person but to relieve their pain, thus assisting them to die with dignity.
“In today’s medical world when we are talking about pain and suffering, there are drugs available which can be administered to make their suffering less, so why are we playing God and taking their life, because that is what it is.”
If the bill becomes law it is likely to serve as a model for other jurisdictions.