Bid for voluntary euthanasia in WA – Perth Now

NEW Health Minister Roger Cook is calling for euthanasia to be legalised in WA in response to a growing demand for terminally ill patients to have the right to end their life.

Mr Cook said he supported voluntary euthanasia and wanted the WA public to have a considered and informed debate about law reform.

I support voluntary euthanasia and I think we need to legislate to enable people to take control of their lives in their final stages, he said.

Any debate in parliament on assisted suicide for terminally ill patients would have to be part of a wider community debate. Mr Cook said that while the Labor Government would not introduce law reform as part of a policy, it supported individual members to table a private members Bill.

He said Labor would allow MPs to exercise a conscience vote on euthanasia.

Labor MLC Alannah MacTiernan and Greens MLC Robin Chapple have been working towards introducing a Bill to allow assisted dying.

Mr Cook said he would welcome an inquiry by a parliamentary committee in the lead up to any Bill.

Last year, The Sunday Times WA Speaks survey of more than 10,000 West Australians showed almost 90 per cent supported voluntary euthanasia.

Mr Cook said the tragic death of the former executive director of the WA Cancer Council, 75-year-old Clive Deverall, should not be in vain.

Mr Deverall took his life on March 11 after suffering for 20 years from a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

His wife, Noreen Fynn, revealed at his funeral on Monday that he had a left a note that said suicide is legal, euthanasia is not.

Mr Cook said if anything was to be gained from this very sad event then it should be proactive legislative change.

Ms MacTiernan, who is the new Agriculture Minister, said she would continue her work on law reform for dying with dignity.

I will ensure this legislation is introduced, she said.

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Bid for voluntary euthanasia in WA - Perth Now