Catholic aged care providers appeal to Vic MPs to reject euthanasia Bill
Catholic service providers in the aged care sector in Victoria have written to Victorian parliamentarians appealing to them to reject the Bill to provide for ‘physician assisted dying’ that is currently before the state parliament.
Upper House Greens MP Colleen Hartland introduced the Bill on 28 May. The Bill would permit a doctor, at the request of a patient, to prescribe a drug to intentionally end the life of a patient, rather than caring for them or treating the illness. The Bill directly affects not only those who are dying, but also those who have an incurable illness which is causing intolerable suffering.
Denis Fitzgerald, director of Catholic Social Services Victoria, said that Catholic aged care providers reject the proposition that it be legal for a doctor to intentionally end the life of a patient.
“Assisted dying is contrary to the principles of care and respect that we, as Catholic aged care providers, provide to ageing members of our community – members from diverse cultures, nationalities,faiths and walks of life. The hallmark of our acceptance of the humanity and intrinsic dignity of each individual is the steadfast commitment to caring for all, including the weakest and most vulnerable, especially in their final stages of life.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the agencies were also deeply concerned by the wide range of conditions under which it would be legal for a doctor to administer a lethal drug.
“When broad definitions of suffering are combined with the fact that many chronic illnesses can be defined as ‘incurable’, the range of conditions that this legislation will encompass is very large indeed.
“Rather than benefiting Victorians who suffer from chronic illnesses, the Bill would make protection of their lives dependant on the strength of their will to continue.”
If assisted dying were an option, there would be pressure for all seriously ill people to consider assisted suicide even if they would not otherwise have entertained such an idea.
“Patients might feel obliged to choose to die so that they are not a burden to others or because of the financial implications of chronic or terminal illness,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Signatories to the letter were: Dr Doug Kent, chief executive officer (CEO), St Vincent de Paul Aged and Community Services; Sr Ana Robertson, Sister Superior and Pastoral Care Coordinator, Nazareth House; Joan Donoghue,CEO, Catholic Homes for the Elderly; Patricia Adam, CEO, Good Shepherd Aged Care Services; Jan Horsnell, CEO, Southern Cross Care; Patrick Gallagher, Community Director, Corpus Christi Community; Roger Greenman, CEO, Cabrini Health; Sr Cecilia Mackay, Sister Superior, Little Sisters of the Poor-St Joseph’s Aged Care; John Ballard, CEO, Mercy Health Care; Martin Laverty, CEO, Catholic Health Australia; and Denis Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Catholic Social Services Victoria.
