An 11th-hour push will seek major amendments to Tasmania’s euthanasia legislation, with Catholic Health Australia warning it will otherwise set a “perilously flawed” precedent for other states. Source: The Australian.
CHA, which operates more than 80 hospitals and hundreds of aged-care centres nationally, has enlisted a QC to prepare amendments to the End-of-Life-Choices bill and is seeking an urgent meeting with Premier Peter Gutwein.
Hobart Archbishop Julian Porteous will also directly intervene in a direct plea to MPs, warning of the threat of “wrongful death” of the vulnerable due to insufficient safeguards.
CHA and other opponents, such as Live & Die Well, accept the voluntary assisted dying bill – to be put to a final vote within weeks – appears likely to pass. However, they warn it is unworkable for faith-based institutions, lowers the bar for such laws nationally, and is “dangerously” lax in safeguards.
Amendments to be put to MPs include allowing entire institutions — not simply individual doctors — to conscientiously object to involvement in euthanasia.
CHA chief Pat Garcia said it is a “matter of grave and mounting concern” to CHA members that Tasmania is “proceeding down this perilous route unchecked”.
Mr Garcia said CHA is worried about that the legalisation lacks safeguards to protect vulnerable people and would force Catholic hospitals and aged-care facilities to offer assisted suicide.
FULL STORY
Late bid to ‘fix dangerous’ Tasmanian euthanasia law (By Matthew Denholm, The Australian)
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