Northern Territory Euthanasia Collection - Address by Marshall Perron at Hervey Bay, 4 March 2006

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CreatorPerron, MarshallScope and ContentsMarshall Perron addresses a group of elderly Queenslanders and discusses the issues of dying and suicide and the importance of voluntary euthanasia legislation. Perron begins the speech discussing the suicide of Nancy Crick, the political embarrassment it caused for the Queensland Government and the vital role that discussing dying and suicide plays in furthering the debate not just around voluntary euthanasia but in managing death, pain and suicide, including the trauma of those left behind. Perron argues that the increase in suicide and the need for voluntary euthanasia is driven by increased lifespans and improved medical technology leading to the increased prevalence of death due to degenerative diseases. Dying is more and more bought about by conscious decision and these decisions are often made by the medical profession rather than the patient themselves. Voluntary euthanasia provides enormous psychological benefit to people knowing that it is there should they need it and Perron can see no rational argument for prolonging pain when death is inevitable and the person wants to die. BackgroundThe Northern Territory was the first jurisdiction in the world to explicitly legalise euthanasia. The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT) entered into law on 1 July 1996. The following year the Commonwealth Parliament intervened to overturn the Act. Section 50A was added to the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 to prohibit the Northern Territory from making laws in respect of euthanasia. The Rights of the Terminally Act was in force for 9 months, during which time four people died by medically assisted suicide through its provisions.Date4/03/2006KeywordSuicideDeathIndividual AutonomyThe ElderlyAdvance DirectivesCollectionNorthern Territory Euthanasia CollectionCollection Number14-024Alternative CollectionPage 1027-1042LanguageEnglishProvenanceThe NT Euthanasia Collection contains donations from a number of contributors. This item was donated by Mr Marshall Perron.Related MaterialPlease see folder list for the NT Euthanasia CollectionCultural AdviceAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers should be aware that this collection may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.LocationArafura Research ArchivePhysical DescriptionElectronic Document - 16 Pages

PersonMarshall PerronNancy CrickPeter BeattiePlaceQueensland

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TopicEuthanasia

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