Another Committee - but great news!

I've just been emailed with the news that the Parliamentary Health Select Committee met today and has agreed to set up an inquiry to fully investigate the matters raised by the petition on end of life choice.

Hon Maryan Street's (and nearly 9000 others') petition asks that the committee “investigate fully public attitudes towards the introduction of legislation which would permit medically-assisted dying in the event of a terminal illness or an irreversible condition which makes life unbearable”. Health Committee chair Simon O’Connor has said today, “I would like to see a thorough investigation that covers as many aspects of this topic as possible in a responsible and robust manner.”

That is a great outcome, indeed the very best that could be hoped for, given the intransigence of most of our Parliamentarians on this issue. As one for whom a changed approach to the subject may have a very personal relevance some time in the not too distant future, I am really pleased that we have at least moved forward to this extent.

An end and a new beginning

The High Court judgment went against Lecretia Searles. Her right to be given assistance to end an unbearable existence is declared to be subject to the Crimes Act. And we now understand that she heard the disappointing news just a few hours before she died.

But the debate she has stirred up is clearly going to continue. There has been huge coverage in the public news media. The End-of-Life-Choice petition is circulating and will be presented to Parliament in a few weeks. And the leader of the ACT party has announced he will draft a private member's bill to go into the Parliamentary ballot box and take its chances of being debated in the context of a conscience vote.

It seems a long road ahead for those of us for whom the issues might become quite sharp and real in the coming months or years. But at least the journey is beginning again.