Premier Mark McGowan has thrown his support behind a push for a parliamentary inquiry into legalising euthanasia for terminally ill patients. <\/p>\n
The West Australian can reveal the Labor caucus will vote next week on whether to launch a cross-party inquiry into voluntary euthanasia, with the aim of reporting after a year. <\/p>\n
Mr McGowan said he would support the establishment of a special parliamentary committee. It is a suitable way forward for this matter to be carefully considered, he said. <\/p>\n
Mr McGowan has supported calls for euthanasia reform in the past but indicated it was a conscience issue for Labor MPs. <\/p>\n
A Labor source said the committee would allow for a widespread community debate. <\/p>\n
(Euthanasia) came up during the election campaign a lot and the community expects us to have the conversation, the source said. <\/p>\n
The West Australian understands if the caucus vote endorses the inquiry, it will be modelled on the one held in 2015 by the Victorian Parliament, which recommended legislation of assisted dying for people suffering from serious and incurable conditions. <\/p>\n
The proposed committee comes after several government ministers flagged support for the issue in the past six months. <\/p>\n
In December, Labor candidate and now Government frontbencher Alannah Mac-JUTiernan and Greens MP Robin Chapple led a push to have a private members Bill legalising euthanasia moved in Parliament before the end of this year. <\/p>\n
In March, Health Minister Roger Cook said he supported voluntary euthanasia. He indicated the Government would not introduce legislation but would support individual MPs bids to introduce a private members Bill. <\/p>\n
I support voluntary euthanasia and I think we need to legislate to enable people to take control of their lives in their final stages, he said. <\/p>\n
The Victorian inquiry, which reported last year, received more than 1000 submissions from medical and legal experts. In its final report, the committee recommended the legalisation, in limited circumstances, of assisted dying. <\/p>\n
Since the report and after advice from two medical professionals, the Government drafted legislation to offer euthanasia as an option for terminally ill patients who have less than a year left to live. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Excerpt from: <\/p>\n
Labor to vote on legalising euthanasia inquiry for WA Parliament - The West Australian<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Premier Mark McGowan has thrown his support behind a push for a parliamentary inquiry into legalising euthanasia for terminally ill patients. The West Australian can reveal the Labor caucus will vote next week on whether to launch a cross-party inquiry into voluntary euthanasia, with the aim of reporting after a year. Continue reading