Time for euthanasia to be regulated

The ACT Legislative Assembly would need to be onside with this proposal, and this, I suggest, is one option on which Ms Porter could focus her efforts to achieve regulatory reform.

Mr Kennett is concerned that information on end-of-life options should only be available for the terminally ill, for those for whom the dignity of life has been lost and under special conditions (presumably not for the clinically depressed). This cannot be completely assured, even with legislation. But penalties can be provided to deter regulatory breaches, so voluntary euthanasia legislation is highly desirable.

Society needs to have a clear debate about rational suicide, and given that parliaments struggle with voluntary euthanasia, any such debate is unlikely to be free of invective and visceral reactions for some time.

Unfortunately, many Liberal and Labor politicians nationally, and many Liberal politicians in the ACT Legislative Assembly, do not support voluntary euthanasia. Greens politicians are generally supportive.

Mr Kennett could usefully lobby his Liberal colleagues (even assisting Ms Porter with her proposed discussions) to legislate for voluntary euthanasia and reduce the risk that some people, including those who are depressed, could access information on end-of-life options.

Furthermore, media organisations might want to place greater emphasis on scrutinising the intransigence of politicians who refuse to establish appropriate regulatory systems despite overwhelming public support. The media might also offer a more balanced appraisal of Dr Nitschke's activities, because in a democracy, no public activities should be beyond reasonable scrutiny.

Philip Nitschke won't go away. He has been the strongest activist for euthanasia reform and the provision of information to the elderly and terminally ill for almost 20 years-in Australia, and now overseas. He has ruffled feathers and will continue to do so.

Dr Nitschke cares for people, particularly when they are at their most desperate. People will continue to derive comfort from his advocacy, determination, advice and research into end-of-life options. And despite increased diligence in mitigating the risk of information getting into the wrong hands, it will, no doubt, still occur.

However, if politicians don't like the fact the voluntary euthanasia agenda and Dr Nitschke's activities are moving into areas they don't agree with, they should establish a voluntary euthanasia regulatory framework.

Legislation will provide sureties for society and reduce the risk of inappropriate access to information. If politicians won't act, they should stand aside for those who will.