This discussion paper seeks feedback on the Parliamentary Committee's recommendations to help create a safe and practical voluntary assisted dying framework.

During this inquiry, the Committee received 1037 submissions, 925 from individuals in a private capacity and 112 from organisations. The overwhelming majority of individual submissions discussed assisted dying. Only a small number focused solely on palliative care.

Voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide for patients with a terminal illness and suffering severe pain to be decriminalised. In addition to the patient’s primary medical practitioner a second and independent practitioner would be required to confirm his / her agreement with the diagnosis and prognosis. Information about palliative care options must be given to the...

Professor Peter Singer (Princeton) and Associate Professor Charles Camosy (Fordham University) debated the ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide at the International Conference on End of Life in Brisbane, 2014. The conference was co-hosted by QUT’s Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Dalhousie Health Law Institute and Tsinghua Health Law Research Centre.

This updated version (of an October 2010 issues backgrounder) takes account of the recent introduction of the Rights of the Terminally Ill Bill in New South Wales. Recent cases in Australia are canvassed as are proposed reforms and recommendations in selected jurisdictions, notably South Australia, Tasmania and the United Kingdom. New sections on Canada and...