Northern Territory Euthanasia Collection - Talk at Caboolture by Marshall Perron, 21 July 2009

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CreatorPerron, MarshallScope and ContentsPerron talks on the subject of dying and the fact that increased lifespans lead to increases in the time it takes to die. Death is increasingly an active choice via the withdrawal of medical treatment. These decisions are rarely made by the patients themselves as they have no capacity to do so at this point. Voluntary euthanasia allows them to make these decisions while they still have capacity. Perron mentions that in Queensland an Advanced Directive can be used to give formal directions in the event of incapacitation. Perron states that he has never found a rational argument for insisting an individual continue their life in extreme pain when they would prefer to die, and the lack of voluntary euthanasia legislation leads to suicide among the elderly and terminally ill, and calls for changes to the law to allow frank discussions between doctors and patients on death and dying.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.

Date21/07/2009KeywordVoluntary EuthanasiaDeathMedically Assisted SuicideIndividual AutonomySuicideCollectionNorthern Territory Euthanasia CollectionCollection Number14-024Alternative CollectionPage 1162-1168LanguageEnglishProvenanceThe 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 - 7 Pages

PersonMarshall PerronNancy CrickPlaceQueenslandOrganisationDying With Dignity Queensland

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TopicEuthanasia

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