Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (5 November) . . Page.. 3672 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

I would, finally, like to turn to the last piece of legislation, the Medical Treatment (Amendment) Bill. I certainly appreciate members' support for clauses 5, 6 and 8. I think Mr Stefaniak, in his rendition of this, misunderstands. You said you were still thinking about it. All that these particular sections do is say that, for the removal of life support systems, you ought not be contained to the one existing condition. At the moment there is a requirement on somebody to write out an advance directive that says, "If I am in a motor car accident and I am left in a coma, then it is my wish that there be the removal of life support systems or I wish to refuse treatment". That is what it allows people to do; nothing else at all. It is purely a passive euthanasia measure. It is not about a slippery slope or charging anywhere. It is simply a clarification of that, and that is what those clauses that Mr Berry and Mr Humphries indicated they will be supporting are about.

The other one is more controversial, and I understand why people oppose it. I think Mr Humphries gave a very good rendition of why he would oppose it. I disagree. I think it is not about a back door to passive euthanasia. My perspective is it is about a slight transfer of power from a medical practitioner to the doctor, so that somebody who is in great pain can have a reasonable chance of getting more treatment. As far as I am concerned, that is what it is about. I can understand why people would oppose it, because they would construe it as being used differently. I would urge you to support clauses 5, 6 and 8, because they are just a clarification in that area.

Question put:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted -

	AYES, 2	 		NOES, 15

	Mrs Littlewood		Mr Berry	Ms McRae
	Mr Moore		Mrs Carnell	Mr Osborne
				Mr Corbell	Ms Reilly
				Mr Cornwell	Mr Stefaniak
				Mr Hird		Ms Tucker
				Ms Horodny	Mr Whitecross
				Mr Humphries	Mr Wood
				Mr Kaine

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .