Making a Choice !

A bill in the New South Wales parliament will be decided by the votes of those we elected to make laws on our behalf.  It seeks to legally enable the terminally ill so seek assistance in ending their lives.  It will contain a number of security measures by way of age limitations and medical consultations to ensure that the applicant is indeed suffering a terminal disease that will deliver a painful death.

Public opinion polls clearly show that the majority of people agree with this proposal, but unfortunately how this vote will be decided is uncertain.  The major political parties have wisely granted their members a conscience vote but powerful religions are agitating against and they will marshal their forces to try and pressure the politicians to deliver a " no " vote.

It seems that this is an issue that must be decided on a state by state basis.  The Northern Territory once passed such a bill, only to have it knocked down by the Federal parliament.  It seems that only the states have the power to make this decision, and the Commonwealth has shown no desire to take it on as a national  decision.

Strangely, it is only a small extension of a perfectly legal act.  Suicide is an option for those who choose to end their life but the method chosen is usually repugnant to loved ones.   Death can come from a hose inserted into the exhaust of a car, or by placing a plastic bag over ones head, or by jumping off a high building.   Often the end result is messy, and risks injuring or killing other unfortunate people.

Those with a terminal disease would prefer a civilized death by way of a quick death assisted by their doctor or a chemist. This law change simply makes it optional.   Those with strong religious views can reject that option and choose to let nature take its course.   In fact the proposed legislation contains compulsory " rethink " time delays.

Should this bill be rejected when it comes to a vote in New South Wales it is likely that it will not reappear in a state parliament for a long period of time.  But it will not be a rejection by the people of New South Wales.  It will be political cowardice by a bunch of politicians who fear opposition whipped up against them by religious zealots at the next election.

This is probably too momentous a decision to be left in the hands of politicians.  It is even too important to be decided at state level.   This is a decision that may one day be faced by each and every citizen of this country and at present they will have no other option than to face an agonising death if fate allows them to linger in a hospital bed with limitations on the level of pain killers that can be applied.

This is a decision that should be made by national referendum.  This is a case when the people should tell the politicians what they want - and demand that it be granted.