QUEENSLAND independent MP Peter Wellington will present a private member’s bill which seeks to tighten euthanasia laws and protects doctors.
The Member for Nicklin had the bill prepared after the furore surrounding Gold Coast grandmother Nancy Crick’s death by euthanasia last month.
The bill has been circulated to interest groups, including Church agencies, and Mr Wellington expects to introduce it into parliament after the budget session, which begins on June 18.
It is based on South Australian legislation and was discussed with Premier Peter Beattie’s staff and relevant ministers.
Mr Wellington approached Archbishop John Bathersby about the bill and he referred it to the director of the Queensland Bioethics Centre, Ray Campbell.
‘My bill is about clarification,’ said Mr Wellington. ‘There are loopholes in Section 296 under which doctors could be prosecuted for relieving pain and distress by, for example, over prescribing morphine.
‘If a secondary result of that treatment is a shortening the patient’s life, doctors will not be dragged before the courts on a criminal charge.
‘Under my bill, the patient must be sufficiently aware to request a doctor to increase the level of medication solely for the relief of pain and distress.
A spokesman for Premier Peter Beattie said on June 4 that the Premier would look closely at the bill as soon as he was able and discuss it with his Cabinet colleagues and Mr Wellington.
