A DISCUSSION AT DIOCESAN CENTRE LEADING TO WRITING SUBMISSIONS TO

THE PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

15 T H NOVEMBER 2015

Write for Life

Some basic ideas

Who is responsible for making decisions in respect of our care?

The informed consent of the person, or their next of kin

To make an informed consent, you must: know what is happening, the risks and benefits, must be mature, reasonable Free, no coercion

Here is the first major risk in the euthanasia debate

Is the person, or their next of kin, free, reasoned and aware of the options

Will the options be made available

Will those faced with cost and or availability of services, or rationed service have a free choice

So this raises the issues of ‘rights’ and access to medical and support services

The core social justice principles of the Church come into play strongly:

The common good, rather human dignity in community, not the good of the rich, the endowed, all, everyone, especially the preferential option for the poor and the vulnerable

Participation and solidarity : no one should feel isolated and unable to participate and make decisions or have options

There are core issues sitting behind the discussion

Then there is respect for life, all life, and the protection and service of those in need; and the prudent conscience

There is a quality of human life that we proclaim is to be protected from conception to natural death

There is a call to serve, feed, nurse, heal, guide, support all, regardless of age, race, economic situation

We oppose death penalty, abortion, infanticide on the same principle

The core principles of medical ethics

Respect for autonomy - the patient has the right to refuse or choose their treatment. (Voluntas aegroti suprema lex.)

Beneficence The medical practitioner will act in the best interest of the patient. (Salus aegroti suprema lex.practitioner)

Non-maleficence - "first, do no harm" (primum non nocere).

Justice - concerns the distribution of scarce health resources, and the decision of who gets what treatment (fairness and equality). (Iustitia.)

Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide are asking us to change the very nature of the relationship of the physician and the patient

But

Also has impact on the provision of hospice, palliative care, normal just distribution of resources

Care and treatment in the time of death

A person has a right to refuse treatment

There are normal, best practice supports, for the preservation of life, for pain relief, for comfort

That when it is clear that someone is dying we have different protocols and care

We do not do anything to intentionally kill or hasten death, we do things which are intentionally to ease pain, to care, to comfort and to fulfil the expressed care of the patient

Only one line is fineSo Let’s stopThinkExpress to your neighbour the key idea that is meaningful to you, in your own words, write on to a piece of paper

Duplicate if in post, line at photocopierTake the information and share with groups, family, and aid them in making a submission

Your AddressDate

Re : Petition of Hon Maryan Street and 8,974 othersThat the House of Representatives 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.

Do you want to appear before the committeeCommentSummarySign

Covering letter Date Page number Submission on the XXX Bill/Inquiry To the (name of Committee) Committee Personal details This submission is from (name of individual/organisation and address). I/we wish to appear before the committee to speak to my/our submission. I can be contacted at: (List your daytime contact telephone number and email address or the name, address, contact telephone number; and email address of the contact person for your organisation if different from above). I/we wish that the following also appear in support of my/our submission: (list names and positions in organisation). Submission I/we support/oppose the intent of this bill because (state reasons). If an organisation, give brief details of your organisation’s aims, membership and structure and the people consulted in the preparation of the submission. I/we wish to make the following comments (general views). Clause 1 (if submitting on a bill) I/we support/oppose this clause because (state reasons). Clause 2 (if submitting on a bill) Although I/we agree with the general intent of this clause, I/we consider that (note changes you would like made and suggest new wording). Specific comments (if submitting on an inquiry) I/we wish to raise the following matters under term of reference 1, term of reference 2, etc (expand on your views and give reasons). Recommendations (List any further recommendations or conclusions you wish the committee to consider. You may wish to restate recommendations mentioned earlier.)