Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: Church in Melbourne, Australia

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Thursday 12 June 2008

An open letter to all Victorian Parliamentarians regarding the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008

We (the undersigned) appeal to honourable members of the Victorian Parliament to reject the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008. The Bill permits doctors to prescribe a drug not for the care of the patient or the treatment of illness, but to intentionally end the life of the patient. The Bill has a very wide scope; it affects not only those who are dying, but also those who have an advanced chronic illness.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

By Dr Nicholas Tonti Filippini

The Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008 provides that a doctor may prescribe a drug to a patient with a terminal or advanced incurable illness so that person may swallow it and die. The following are some matters to consider about the Bill.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

At the outset, it should be stated that the care and protection of the terminally and chronically ill is of paramount importance. The alleviation of pain and suffering is part of this care of the human person, especially as he or she is coming to the end of his or her life. We all are, the proponents of the Bill included, concerned with the alleviation of pain and suffering in chronically ill and dying human beings; where we disagree is on the question of how this is to be done. This is not, however, simply a disagreement about treatment, but a much more fundamental disagreement about the nature and dignity of the human person and about how we are best able to provide treatment which is consonant with that dignity.

Tuesday 10 June 2008

Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill
Key Concerns

This Bill permits doctors to prescribe a drug to intentionally end the life of a human being. The scope of the Bill is alarming. It affects not only those who are dying, but also those who have an advanced incurable illness.

CSSV logo Friday 6 June 2008

Victorian Catholic Aged Care Service providers have written to all State Parliamentarians appealing to them to reject the Physician Assisted Dying Bill.

Use the details below to contact members of the Legislative Assembly.

Use the contact detials below to contact members of the Legislative Council.

Tuesday 27 May 2008

The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) yesterday called on members of Victoria’s Legislative Council to allow a controversial euthanasia bill set to be tabled this week to ‘die a natural death’.

ACL Victorian Director Rob Ward said the Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008 will reportedly be introduced by Greens MLC Colleen Hartland this Wednesday but he is urging Upper House members not to give leave for it to be debated.

Wednesday 30 April 2008

A draft Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008 will be presented to the Victorian Parliament.

The document, prepared by Neil Francis, President of Dying With Dignity Victoria, will be proposed to State Parliament by Colleen Hartland, Member for Western Metropolitan and Hon. Ken Smith, Member for Bass.

Read the exposure draft Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008

Parliamentarians accountable to electorate: Archbishop Hart urges opposition to Euthanasia Bill

Archbishop Denis Hart Tuesday 29 April 2008

Archbishop Denis Hart has urged Catholics of Melbourne to oppose new euthanasia legislation that is to be presented to the Victorian Parliament.

Archbishop Hart has also written to members of Parliament urging them to defeat the new legislation for the sake of those who are chronically ill or dying.

A draft Medical Treatment (Physician Assisted Dying) Bill 2008 has been prepared by Neil Francis, President of Dying With Dignity Victoria, and is to be proposed to the Victorian Parliament by Colleen Hartland, Member for Western Metropolitan and Hon. Ken Smith, Member for Bass.

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