Another of Mr Janetzki’s amendments would open up the scheme to people expected to die from a neurodegenerative disease,illness or medical condition within 12 months.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she supported the “intent” but there would be issues assessing a patient’s decision-making capabilities while being treated for Alzheimer’s disease,and there was a risk that patients could be coerced.
“I understand that disease – I understand because my mother died of Alzheimer’s,” she said,choking back tears,before pausing to take a sip of water. “And 15 years on,it doesn’t make it any easier to talk about.
“I know what she’d choose – she’d choose VAD. I know,we had lots of conversations about how we wanted to live and die.
“But it’s not as simple as adding a line[to the bill].”
Under another of Mr Janetzki’s amendments,a doctor signing off on euthanasia would have to have experience in the relevant disease,illness or medical condition,addressing a concern raised byCatholic Health Australia.
People hoping to access euthanasia would have to receive advice on palliative care options,and doctors with a conscientious objection would not be forced to refer a person to a practitioner who was willing to perform euthanasia.
LNP leader David Crisafulli,who did not support the bill,said he had not allowed the debate to become politicised.
While both major partiesallowed a conscience vote on abortion laws in 2018,three LNP members – Tim Nicholls,Jann Stuckey and Steven Minnikin – voted against the majority of their party colleagues and supported the bill. This was despite an email from a state electoral councilthreatening disendorsement,and comments by then-president Gary Spence,who told members they could be putting their preselection at risk.
Mr Crisafulli did not reference the abortion debate – the last time Queensland MPs were granted a conscience vote – but said there would be a true conscience vote on euthanasia.
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“I haven’t allowed this to be politicised in my community,my party room,or in the headquarters of our political movement,” he said.
“This is a true conscience vote,and you will see that in the individual decisions taken this week among LNP MPs.”
Mr Crisafulli said he believed in the right of an individual to make a decision in their own interests,free from the influence and obstruction of the state.
But he was concerned about people’s equal access to palliative care.
“While my heart hurts for people facing great pain and terminal illness,I can’t allow them to die via flawed legislation,” he said.
Debate continues,with MPs expected to vote on Thursday night.
If passed,Queensland would become the fifth state to legalise voluntary euthanasia,and it would come into effect in January 2023.