QUEENSLAND Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Church-run health facilities and nursing homes must allow voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill patients who could not or would not be moved to other facilities.
Mr Miles’ announcement means Church-run facilities should not expect a blanket right of institutional conscientious objection.
The bill will allow doctors to perform euthanasia on patients or residents at Catholic health facilities without asking for permission or notifying the facility.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge said Mr Miles’ statement was “disappointing but not surprising”.
“It would be good if he were as committed to providing palliative care for the many as he is to providing euthanasia for the few,” Archbishop Coleridge said.
“He speaks of choice but what real choice is there when proper palliative care isn’t available?
“The Deputy Premier’s position in this debate is now clear.
“He may have carriage of the bill, but we hope that the Government can still see the need to respect the right of conscientious objection.
“Whatever Steven Miles’ views are, it won’t stop Catholic health and aged care organisations from working for changes in the draft bill, especially at the point of conscientious objection.”
A new Catholic Health Australia website, which details the issues with the Voluntary Assisted Suicide legislation, has called for a genuine opt-out scheme for Catholic facilities and institutions.
CHA has called for supporters to join a letter-writing campaign for “properly resourced” palliative and end-of-life services.
Palliative care experts estimate an extra $275 million a year is needed to improve palliative care services across the entire state – far more than the $171 million over six years the Queensland Government has pledged so far.
