Today we expect to see the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill pass through Queensland’s Parliament.
This action will have a huge impact on our future, and I thank everyone who called, emailed, wrote and visited my office to present their thoughtful and respectful views on the Bill.
While the parliament has now voted in favour of the Bill, I continue to grapple with the issues around protections and safeguards for the most vulnerable in our communities.
My main concern about the Bill in its current form is safeguards for the elderly and other vulnerable people, and inadequate protections for patients who lack sufficient decision-making capacity and may not be acting voluntarily. In this case, we would be looking at euthanasia – not voluntary assisted dying.
There are concerns about safeguards around medical practitioners who have never had contact with the person before and have no prior knowledge of the patient’s health record, let alone their personality, moods, beliefs or previously discussed issues. People have asked: if there was a breach, how would it be detected, let alone enforced? There is no positive duty in the Bill requiring an assessing doctor to interrogate the clinical history of the patient.
We are in no doubt that our region needs significant hospice and palliative care funding to alleviate pain. I believe it is only right and proper for those who want to pursue other courses to maintain dignity at end of life through hospice and palliative care. In Queensland, we cannot offer that option because of lack of funding for services.
I acknowledge that there are differing views among my constituents and that some will disagree with my decision to vote no, but I have sought to act in good faith and have engaged deeply with many of the conflicting legal, religious, medical and ethical implications embedded in the Bill.
I cannot apologise for fighting for what I see and believe as the right thing to do, and that is to exercise my conscience vote.
16/09/2021