Member for Murray Helen Dalton spoke out in favour of the voluntary assisted dying proposal, currently being debated in the NSW state government chambers.
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The bill, which has attracted some heated debate, will give those with terminal illnesses access to voluntary assisted dying, along with establishing a consistent and regulated process for the same.
Mrs Dalton is a co-sponsor of the bill, and said that she would be in favour of passing the bill.
"I know over three quarters of my constituents are supportive of the bill," she said.
"I do personally agree with it but regardless of that, I'd be voting for it because that's what they want.
"I don't know why it's taken NSW so long to do that, we should align ourselves with the rest of the states of the world in offering terminally ill people the choice to die on their own terms."
She said that the key to the bill was introducing more choices.
"Sometimes, if people are ill and there is no hope... we're an optimistic people but sometimes the only way out is for them to have a choice," Mrs Dalton explained.
"It is voluntary - if they're in incredible pain or in distress, it should be offered to them. The safeguards in this bill are designed to ensure it won't be used if there's hope for a cure."
The safeguards include a number of key elements that must be met for someone to be eligible for voluntary assisted dying. The safeguards include an external medical practitioner determining whether a patient has a qualifying disease as well as a psychiatrist examining decision-making ability.
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Mrs Dalton said those safeguards were vital.
"Many are worried that this bill is about giving up on people. We hear that phrase 'Where there's life, there's hope' and the safeguards are there to make sure it's not used where there is hope," she said.
She added that she thought it was unlikely that the bill could ever practically be applied in the region, and that terminally ill patients would have to travel to regional centres or a capital city.
"The reality is it'll never be offered in our electorate. You need to talk to psychiatrists and professionals we don't have. A sick or dying person will have to go to a regional centre or a capital city to get those professionals to assist, at the moment we don't have that.
"I'd hate to think it was done by tele-health, you have to have people on the ground."
The bill is currently being debated in government chambers, and has been allowed a conscience vote.
It is expected to be voted on in 2022.
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