Northern Territory Euthanasia Collection - Speech to the National Seniors Australia End of Life Planning Forum by Marshall Perron, 20 March 2014

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CreatorPerron, MarshallScope and ContentsPerron's speech begins on death, its inevitability, and the fact that it is increasingly a decision made by medical specialists due to increased life spans and advanced medical technology. Perron states that his resolve to promote decriminalisation of euthanasia comes from his inability to find a rational argument that an individual who prefers to die should continue to suffer. Perron supports palliative care and quotes Palliative Care Australia's acknowledgement that it cannot cover all situations. Currently the only option for those for whom palliative care no longer works is the withdrawal of treatment and terminal sedation. Perron points out the contradiction between this death over days via drugs and voluntary euthanasia achieving the same results within minutes. Perron cites a court case in Western Australia that confirmed a patient's rights to refuse food and drink, and thus in effect commit suicide and then discusses the reality of suicide by the elderly in Australia, usually violent and lonely and that it is illegal to support someone to commit suicide, and urges out politicians to end the misery and trauma associated with end of life situations in the absence of euthanasia legislation.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.Date20/03/2014KeywordDeathPalliative CareVoluntary EuthanasiaMedically Assisted SuicideSuicideCollectionNorthern Territory Euthanasia CollectionCollection Number14-024Alternative CollectionPage 1452-1457LanguageEnglishProvenanceThe 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 - 6 Pages

PersonMarshall PerronPlaceQueenslandOrganisationPalliative Care Australia

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TopicEuthanasia

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