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Euthanasia should be legal: Vic MPs

Victorian MPs say euthanasia should be legal in limited circumstances - and end-of-life care and laws improved.

A nurse holds the hand of an elderly patient in a hospital

Source: AAP

Victoria should change its criminal laws to allow doctors to euthanise people, a parliamentary report says.

A cross-party committee of MPs has recommended legalising assisted dying in limited circumstances.

The committee examined euthanasia laws in other countries and found they had robust regulations to protect people against abuse.

"We found no evidence of institutional corrosion or the often-cited 'slippery slope'," Liberal MP Ed O'Donohue said.

The committee's report - tabled in parliament on Thursday - says adults with incurable and insufferable terminal diseases should be allowed to request assisted dying.

It suggests the Crimes Act be changed to allow doctors to euthanise them.

The report also calls for better palliative care and end-of-life treatment.

Premier Daniel Andrews, whose father recently died after along battle with cancer, said he would consider the report's recommendations.

"Personal views are informed by personal experience, and I know that for me, and my family, we've been doing a lot of thinking about these issues," Mr Andrews told reporters.

The report says safeguards should be in place to protect vulnerable people and ensure they aren't pressured or coerced into making any decision.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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