Calvary is “deeply concerned” the ACT’s proposed euthanasia laws could force it to allow practitioners to enter its facilities to discuss euthanasia with residents. Source: Canberra Times.
The Catholic healthcare organisation has criticised the territory’s proposed laws and has called on the ACT Government to make the scheme more in line with those in New South Wales.
Calvary also rejected an offer from the ACT Government to participate in a working group on the adoption of voluntary assisted dying due to their stance.
The ACT’s bill says care facilities with a conscientious objection to voluntary assisted dying are not allowed to hinder access to voluntary assisted dying. A facility could face a fine of up to $81,000 in the most extreme circumstance.
Under the proposed law, a facility would not be able to prevent a practitioner from entering a facility to speak with patients about voluntary assisted dying.
This differs from legislation in other states where healthcare organisations with a conscientious objection are not obliged to assist in providing access.
Calvary regional chief executive southern NSW and ACT Ross Hawkins said the organisation had concerns about potential confusion arising from these discrepancies.
“Calvary is deeply concerned the proposed ACT legislation seeks to force any healthcare provider which chooses not to participate in VAD to allow non-credentialed practitioners to enter their hospitals and hospices and provide a service outside of its ordinary scope of practice,” he wrote in an opinion piece in The Canberra Times.
Calvary was invited to take part in a working group about the ACT’s voluntary assisted dying but declined.
“Calvary cannot and will not provide for the administration of a substance that will directly and intentionally cause a person’s death,” Mr Hawkins said.
FULL STORY
Calvary concerned they’d be forced to allow practitioners in to discuss euthanasia (By Lucy Bladen, Canberra Times)
