According to Damon Spina, a terminal cancer patient, ‘good death’ can be received through euthanasia. Like Spina, thousands of patients with her similar condition supports the idea of legalising it.
Spina’s body is currently afflicted with terminal cancer.
The said condition ceased the proper use of his right arm and incapacitated his legs.
And the 43-year-old patient is aware that the condition could also affect all other parts of his body.
He affirmed that he is ready for death considering his condition but he wanted it to be a good one.
Spina has told that he wanted to be recognised at the end of his life and he did not want to be in the same image at his death.
Even though Spina underwent treatments, these were not enough as cancer spread in different parts of his body.
Spina affirmed that the cancer is already spreading and there is no other way that could have him treated.
Spina is now incapable of working. He told that there will be a time that will come that he will be all willing to end his own life.
He told that the death he wanted is through legal, lethal injection or ingestion.
He considers such way of death as peaceful.
He also told that that’s the only choice he got and he does not worry at all anymore.
Spina added that the best way to go and say farewell if he could do it legally with his friends and family as a witness.
The case of Damon Spina is just one of the hundreds of accounts that are lobbied to the Queensland Parliament for the approval of voluntary assisted dying (VAD).
Horrendous Deaths
The inquiry is analysing how the VAD scheme could be applied in Queensland. Among the inclusion of the analysis and examination is the role of the safeguards in protecting the patients and medical practitioners’ possible objections.
As of the date, there have been almost 5000 submissions supporting the said inquiry.
The matters that are currently examined in the said scheme are the applicant’s valid reason, consent giving, decision-making capacity, and third party-assistance.
The inquiry will also push through to analyse the VAD scheme in Victoria.
Jos Hall, the incumbent president of Dying with Dignity Queensland has been pushing for the legalisation of VAD for decades.
She told that vulnerable people usually resort to committing suicide if no choice is given.
She added that people are dying with dread.
Hall told that figures in Queensland Coroner is not yet acquired but there are accounts that at least one person in Victoria is committing suicide which she referred to as violent deaths.
VAD scheme that is applied in Victoria has 68 safeguards and applicants should meet before proceeding with the permission to take lethal drugs.
Among the restrictions are the following:
· Victorian resident
· At least 18 years of age
· Considered having a terminal illness
· Considered having intolerable pain that could cause death within six or twelve months if the disease if a neurodegenerative one.
· Having medications locked in a box
The said model is the ideal one to be applied in Queensland according to Ms. Hall.
However, she still pointed out that the six to twelve months of the time frame for eligibility is restrictive for patients with progressive neurodegenerative conditions. She told that it should be expanded.
Even the Young Ones Could be Affected
VAD lobbyists told that the Queensland government should come up with a law that could be subjected to debate before the October 2020 election.
Each day, VAD has been argued to be illegal.
Holly Warland is a Brisbane resident who was afflicted by a degenerative disease referred to as Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy in her late 20s.
She told that her condition can be considered as living with a death sentence. Her life has been documented on a blog and social media.
Holly Warland told in her blog that this unfortunate reality should be handled at all cost and she should be considerate of ending her own life whenever she is reading.
She affirmed that she was not aware that considering such option could be serious for her. He even referred to it as a humane option.
She added that she could wait until her death comes but it would include more pain and suffering as well.
Saving Life is a Commitment
Australian Medical Association considers VAD to be a serious opponent.
Dr. Dilip Dhupelia, the President of AMAQ told that VAD could lead to an ethical conflict with the doctors sworn to do
He told that it is their job to save people’s lives.
He even told that it is very difficult for doctors to see their patients whom they’ve been looking for decades to receive lethal injection.
He added that doctors are people too and they committed themselves to a cause of saving people’s lives.
The opposition of AMA to VAD is supported by different medical associations across the globe including associations in Great Britain, New Zealand, United States of America and the World Medical Association.
AMAQ currently is comprised of more than 6,000 doctors which have 30% are in Queensland.
Dr. Dhupelia told that he is also concerned when the legalisation of VAD has come, the security of doctors is unsure.
Dr. Dhupelia explained that the provision of doctor of assistance to take away other’s lives could be in conflict with his/her religious beliefs and philosophy as a doctor.
He also added that the legalisation law could be used to target elderly, vulnerable people.
The manifestation of the law can lead to coercion and pressure from the community to commit such sacrifice.
Instead of VAD, Dr. Dhupelia told that the government should invest well in palliative care that could help patients with end-of-life care.
He told that he is confident that they could deliver the proper care and right resources to pull off good comfort provision for people and patients who are approaching the end of their lives.
However, Jos Hall disagreed with Dr. Dhupelia stating that quality of life couldn’t be achieved through medication and sedation.
Ms. Hall added that giving comfortable and good death is better for the patients. She even argued that seeing the death of people who received the best care is not always effective.
The government will receive the said recommendations at the end of November this year.
