Vote down dangerous VAD amendment, NSW Upper House urged
Go Gentle Australia
Key Facts:The amendment seeks to remove the rights of residents in residential aged care facilities, potentially forcing them off the premises if they want to access VAD
NSW voters overwhelmingly support universal access to VAD, as shown in a statewide telephone poll conducted by Redbridge in 2022
Harm is caused by aged care homes restricting access to VAD, according to Research by Professors White and Willmott of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research, QUT
Older people have rights, no matter where they live, according to Guidance from the federal regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
The bill, introduced by Susan Carter MLC, seeks to remove the rights of dying people in residential aged care to access voluntary assisted dying (VAD). It is being debated today (Wednesday 22 October).
Go Gentle’s CEO Dr Linda Swan said:
“We are deeply concerned about this proposed change that has the potential to inflict serious harm on some of our most vulnerable older people.
“When a person enters residential aged care, that place becomes their home. This bill would unreasonably allow an aged care home to force an older dying person off the premises.
“This would be no matter how unwell or close to death that person is. In effect they would be forced out of familiar surroundings, and away from their friends and community.
“These politicians seem to forget that older people have rights no matter where they live. The federal aged care regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, has made it crystal clear that ‘a person should not be disadvantaged if they live in an aged care facility and want information about and/or access to VAD’.
“We call on Upper House members to vote down this cruel amendment so that older people are not denied their rights – and their choices – just because they call an aged care facility their home.”
Read Go Gentle Australia’s letter to NSW MLCs
About us:
Go Gentle Australia is a national charity established by Andrew Denton in 2016 to promote choice at the end of life, including the option of voluntary assisted dying.
Contact details:
0426 283 865
