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NSW to consider assisted dying laws

Voluntary assisted dying laws will be introduced into the NSW parliament on Thursday, in a renewed push spearheaded by Nationals MP Trevor Khan.

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Source: AAP


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Terminally ill NSW residents aged over 25 would be able to end their own lives with medical help under legislation bound for state parliament.

Nationals MP Trevor Khan is one of the key figures behind a cross-party voluntary assisted dying bill to be introduced on Thursday.

Mr Khan's motivation is a personal one, having watched his father die after suffering a stroke.

"I thought what he went through isn't necessarily what others should have to go through," Mr Khan told AAP on Wednesday.

A raft of safeguards have been added to the bill after a public consultation received 72 substantive submissions.

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Some of those safeguards include an external "assisted death panel" to review all cases put forward, as well as the requirement of a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist to oversee the process to prevent elder abuse.

"In the face-to-face forums we have held the primary concern received is that the bill doesn't go far enough," Mr Khan told AAP.

"This is nothing like the European model, what we are proposing is much more conservative.

"But it's better to get 70 per cent of something than a mouthful of ashes."

Various state and national public polls reflect strong community support for an appropriate assisted dying bill but several key politicians will not support the legislation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to oppose the bill, describing voluntary euthanasia as a difficult issue.

"I personally haven't been able to bring myself around to supporting the bill," Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday.

Victorian MPs are also debating voluntary assisted dying legislation, which would apply to adults with a terminal illness and life expectancy of less than 12 months.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the legislation, introduced to the state's parliament on Wednesday, contained strict and guidelines and strong penalties, up to life in prison, against anyone who would break the rules.


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